Investigation of surge-tide interaction in the storm surge model CSM-16

The Dutch Continental Shelf Model CSM-16 will be used for operational storm surge predictions in the Netherlands. In these predictions the non-linear interaction between surge and tide is an important feature for the whole southern North Sea and the Channel. The aim of the present study was to investigate the reproduction of interaction by CSM-16 and to describe and explain the characteristics of interaction. For the storm surges of 31 January and 1953 and 1 and 2 February 1983, the variations in the computed and observed surge levels which are characteristic for interaction, were compared. In general, the agreement of the variations was satisfactory. The characteristics of interaction were described and explained on the basis of literature and model experiments in which the phase of the surge and the tidal conditions were varied.