2.10 Spatial discretization of the dynamical equations

Spatial discretization is carried out using the finite volume method. This amounts to a grid-point method (namely second-order centered finite difference) in the fluid interior but allows boundaries to intersect a regular grid allowing a more accurate representation of the position of the boundary. We treat the horizontal and vertical directions as separable and differently.

• 2.10.1 Notation
• 2.10.2 The finite volume method: finite volumes versus finite difference
• 2.10.3 C grid staggering of variables
• 2.10.4 Grid initialization and data
• 2.10.5 Horizontal grid
  • 2.10.5.1 Reciprocals of horizontal grid descriptors
  • 2.10.5.2 Cartesian coordinates
  • 2.10.5.3 Spherical-polar coordinates
  • 2.10.5.4 Curvilinear coordinates
  
  
• 2.10.6 Vertical grid
• 2.10.7 Topography: partially filled cells

Copyright © 2002 Massachusetts Institute of Technology