SHYFEM-MPI Reference Configuration
The SURF-SHYFEM platform uses the SHYFEM-MPI (Shallow water HYdrodynamic Finite Element Model) model as its core ocean circulation component. A solid understanding of SHYFEM-MPI is helpful for advanced configuration and interpreting simulation results. For detailed information and model reference, please consult Micaletto et al. (2022).
In SURF-SHYFEM, users can specify key SHYFEM-MPI parameters via a user-friendly JSON configuration file, while other settings are either preconfigured with recommended defaults or dynamically computed at runtime. This design simplifies setup while supporting advanced customization.
For a complete list of user configurable parameters — both basic and advanced options — refer to the Configuration Section of this manual.
The version of SHYFEM-MPI included within the SURF-SHYFEM Docker container is precompiled and ready to use, eliminating the need for manual compilation.
The SHYFEM-MPI Namelist
SHYFEM-MPI is configured using a text file called namelist, which define key aspects of the simulation — such as physical parameterizations, numerical schemes and I/O parameters.
At the beginning of the simulation step, SURF generates the namelist based on the user configuration and on internally set defaults.
Below is the reference namelist.str file, organized into tiles by section for easier browsing.
In the namelist, the placeholders @@@ are replaced with the corresponding values from the SURF configuration file.