3.2.3. Influence of wind description
The wind time series and the resulting velocity time series in the
central channel (MP) for experiments WIN-1, WIN-2, WIN-3 and
WIN-4 are shown in Fig. 10. At first sight, it seems that the velocity
time series reproduces the behaviour of the wind time series. However,
a more careful look shows some interesting details. The time
resolution required to correctly capture the dominant processes is one
hour (i.e. 6 or 12 h are clearly not enough). Even if a 6-hour (WIN-4)
forcing could partially capture the most intense events, the energy in
the wind field is not enough for a correct forcing of the harbour
circulation. In the simulation forced with a wind time resolution of
12 h, there is also a lack of energy input but the wind peaks are also
shifted due to the averaging; therefore the harbour circulation drifts
away.