SMS:ADCIRC Output

Global Output Files

ADCIRC will generate two global output files: water-surface elevation and velocity. To set the time for the two files:

1. Click on the Files tab.
2. In the Output Files Created by Adcirc section scroll down to Elevation Time Series (Global) and turn the Output checkbox on.
3. Make sure the Start (day), the End (day), and the Frequency (min) are set to the desired values.
4. Repeat steps 2 and 3 for the Velocity Time Series (Global).

Importing ADCIRC Global Output Files

Each output file from ADCIRC is imported into SMS as a “Dataset.” There are two types of datasets, scalar and vector. The global elevation file is an example of a scalar dataset, while the global velocity file is a vector dataset. You will import the global elevation file and the global velocity file simultaneously. To do this:

1. Select File | Open.
2. Hold the SHIFT key down and select both the fort.63 and fort.64 files.
3. Click the 'Open button.
4. Click OK in the Convert to XMDF dialog to convert both solution files.

SMS reads in the files and adds “Water Surface Elevation (63)” and “Velocity (64) mag” as Scalar datasets and “Velocity (64)” as a Vector dataset in the Mesh Data of the Project Explorer.

Viewing ADCIRC Output

Once both ADCIRC output files have been imported, the user must decide on how to view the data. The Project Explorer may be used to select the desired Scalar and Vector datasets.

1. Activate the dataset to view by clicking on it in the Project Explorer.

Scalar Dataset Options

A good way to view the output is to edit the contour display options. To change the contour properties:

1. Select the Display Options macro in the Toolbox.
2. In the 2D Mesh tab, click the All off button to turn off current display options.
3. Turn on the Contours, and Mesh boundary.
4. Under the Contours Options tab, change the Contour Method to Color Fill.
5. For the Number of contours, enter desired value.
6. Click OK to exit the dialog box, and SMS will redraw the screen similar to

To view the data at different time steps, select the desired time steps in the Time Steps window. The Time Step value is in hours, minutes and seconds from the start of the ADCIRC run.

Vector Dataset Options

You can display velocity vectors several different ways. We will first view them displayed at each node, and then on a normalized grid.

Vectors at Each Node

1. Using the Zoom tool , zoom in on the mesh so only the bay area is visible.
2. Select the Display Options macro in the Toolbox.
3. In the Display Options dialog under the 2D Mesh tab, turn on the Vectors toggle.
4. In the Vectors tab, under the Arrows Options section, make sure the Shaft length is set to Define min and max length.
5. Change the Min length to desired minimum length and the Max length to desired maximum length.
6. Click the OK button to exit.

Vectors on a Normalized Grid

1. Open the Display Options and go to the Vectors tab.
2. Under Vector Display Placement and Filter, change the Display to the on a grid. option.
3. For both the x pix and y pix, enter the desired value and click the OK button.

This method of displaying vectors is useful when displaying areas with both coarse and refined areas, such as the entire mesh in this case.

ADCIRC Files

Here are tables of all the availible Input and Output files with the ADCIRC model (All formats might not be supported by SMS)

• For more information on the formating of these files click the link on the file name and you will be redirected to the ADCIRC online documentation (ADCIRC.org)

Input Files

Name	Description	Required/Conditional
fort.14	Grid and Boundary Information File	Required
fort.15	Model Parameter and Periodic Boundary Condition File	Required
fort.10	Passive Scalar Transport Input File	Conditional
fort.11	Density Initial Condition Input File	Conditional
fort.13	Nodal Attributes File	Conditional
fort.19	Non-periodic Elevation Boundary Condition File	Conditional
fort.20	Non-periodic, Normal Flux Boundary Condition File	Conditional
fort.22	Single File Meteorological Forcing Input	Conditional
fort.200,...	Multiple File Meterological Forcing Input	Conditional
fort.23	Wave Radiation Stress Forcing File	Conditional
fort.24	Self Attraction/Earth Load Tide Forcing File	Conditional
fort.67 or fort.68	2DDI Hot Start Files	Conditional

Output Files

Name	Description
fort.6	Screen Output
fort.16	General Diagnostic Output
fort.33	Iterative Solver ITPACKV 2D Diagnostic Output
fort.41	3D Density, Temperature and/or Salinity at Specified Recording Stations
fort.42	3D Velocity at Specified Recording Stations
fort.43	3D Turbulence at Specified Recording Stations
fort.44	3D Density, Temperature and/or Salinity at All Nodes in the Model Grid
fort.45	3D Velocity at All Nodes in the Model Grid
fort.46	3D Turbulence at All Nodes in the Model Grid
fort.51	Elevation Harmonic Constituents at Specified Elevation Recording Stations
fort.52	Depth-averaged Velocity Harmonic Constituents at Specified Velocity Recording Stations
fort.53	Elevation Harmonic Constituents at All Nodes in the Model Grid
fort.54	Depth-averaged Velocity Harmonic Constituents at All Nodes in the Model Grid
fort.55	Harmonic Constituent Diagnostic Output
fort.61	Elevation Time Series at Specified Elevation Recording Stations
fort.62	Depth-averaged Velocity Time Series at Specified Velocity Recording Stations
fort.63	Elevation Time Series at All Nodes in the Model Grid
fort.64	Depth-averaged Velocity Time Series at All Nodes in the Model Grid
fort.67, fort.68	Hot Start Output
fort.71	Atmospheric Pressure Time Series at Specified Meteorological Recording Stations
fort.72	Wind Velocity Time Series at Specified Meteorological Recording Stations
fort.73	Atmospheric Pressure Time Series at All Nodes in the Model Grid
fort.74	Wind Stress or Velocity Time Series at All Nodes in the Model Grid
fort.81	Depth-averaged Scalar Concentration Time Series at Specified Concentration Recording Stations
fort.83	Depth-averaged Scalar Concentration Time Series at All Nodes in the Model Grid
fort.91	Depth-averaged Density Fields at Specified Recording Stations
fort.93	Depth-averaged Density Fields at All Nodes in the Model Grid

Related Topics

• Run ADCIRC