The sedflux Initialization File

A sedflux initialization file is divided into two parts. The first part defines some global parameters while the second divides the model run into one or more “epochs”. Each epoch defines a time step, duration, and process environment.

Global Parameters

The following is an example of a group that defines the global parameters for a sedflux simulation.

[ global ]
margin name:            poverty_bay
vertical resolution:    0.05
x resolution:           30000
y resolution:           100
bathymetry file:        poverty_bay_bathy.csv
sediment file:          poverty_bay_sediment.kvf

Each of these parameter/value pairs must be specified whether run in 2D or 3D mode. A brief description of the parameters:

• margin name: The name of the sedflux simulation. This name will appear in the name of sedflux output files
• vertical resolution: The vertical resolution (in meters) of the model run. Sediment deposits will be averaged over this amount.
• x resolution: Resolution of the model run in the x-direction. For a 2D simulation this will be the along shore width over which sediment deposited. For 3D simulations, this refers to the spacing of rows in the bathymetry file.
• y resolution: Resolution of the model run in the y-direction. For a 2D simulation this will be the resolution of the simulation in the cross-shore. For 3D simulations, this refers to the spacing of columns in the bathymetry file.
• bathymetry file: The name of the file that specifies the initial bathymetry of the simulation.
• sediment file: The name of the file that defines the type of sediment that is used by the model.

Epoch Parameters

The following is an example of a series of groups that define epoch parameters for a simulation.

[ epoch ]
number:           1
duration:         490y
time step:        1d
process file:     poverty_bay1.epoch

[ epoch ]
number:           2
duration:         60y
time step:        1d
process file:     poverty_bay2.epoch

[ epoch ]
number:           3
duration:         300y
time step:        1d
process file:     poverty_bay3.epoch

Here three epochs are specified. Each has its own duration and process file. Thus, in this example, the total simulation models 850 years. A brief description of the parameters,

• number: Number that specifies the order that sedflux will run the epochs. sedflux runs epochs in ascending order.
• duration: The length of the epoch (y for years, m for months, and d for days).
• time step: The time step of the epoch (y for years, m for months, and d for days). IMPORTANT: Note that this parameter may be ignored (see NOTE at the bottom of this page).
• process file: The name of the file that defines the processes for the epoch.

Note

If within the epoch process file the river values are specified as ‘season’, the time step given in that file will override that specified in the initialization file.