In essence model validation is an ongoing process. T RIM2D has been satisfactorily validated by the Naval Research and Development lab, NRaD, using a suite of field data collected in San Diego Bay by the US Geological Survey, the US Navy, and the Army Corp of Engineers. These data include water surface elevation, and current meter data collected using mechanical and acoustic instruments. Data collection occurred between 1993-95. The collection sites are shown below.
Current predictions are accurate in the front and middle sections of the bay.
Towards the south bay, the existing currents are much smaller and model performance is not well documented. Wind forcing, which is less predictable, plays a role. The shallow waters make instrument deployment problematic. With small currents, the angular momentum of the instruments induce direction errors, hence the model is more difficult to validate in these areas. P eriodic time series data such as the above signals can be decomposed into a finite number of harmonics for comparative analysis.