Geomorphology visualization modeling and tidal current virtual reality for coastal ocean

The new technology of geomorphology visualization modeling and virtual reality for tidal current numerical simulation are the important methods utilized in coastal ocean research. In the project of studying the evolutionary trend of radial sand ridges in South Yellow Sea of China, this method becomes the key to reveal the correlation between the seabed topography and the hydrodynamic factor— tidal current. It is proved that using the geomorphology visualization and tidal virtual reality techniques, oceanographers might be able to intuitively discover the interaction pattern of sand ridges and tidal current, predicting the development of sand ridge stability in the future. Furthermore, a prototypic software system—VROcean was designed and implemented to examine the performance of the new visualization technology on the contrast to traditional methods.