Three-dimensional model simulations off the west coast of Vancouver Island

The three-dimensional, prognostic, finite element model, QUODDY4, is used to calculate baroclinic tidal and residual flows off the west coast of Vancouver Island. Although strong summer upwelling in the region is known to support high biological productivity and a lucrative commercial fishery, recent fluctuations in the biomass of several species (salmon, herring, hake) and their correlation with variable oceanic conditions has illustrated the need to better understand these biophysical linkages. In this numerical study it is demonstrated that upwelling, arising solely from bottom mixing in combination with the bottom boundary condition, produces many of the sub-tidal circulation features observed in the region. Tidal currents are also shown to have more accurate representations than in earlier barotropic simulations. These results are milestones toward our eventual goal of building a biophysical model for the region.