Introduction

Abstract

The use of computational fluid dynamics to analyze and predict environmental changes has increased considerably in recent decades. Numerical models are now standard tools in research and in a wide range of applications. Increasing concerns about human influence on climatic and environmental conditions has increased the need for multi-disciplinary modeling efforts, including the numerical modeling of oceans, lakes, land surfaces, ice, rivers, and the atmosphere. Scientists have traditionally developed specialized models limited to application within their own disciplines. Today, increasing efforts are being made to develop general equation solvers that allow users to create a code applicable to a broad range of problems.