In order for EFDC_Explorer to post-process model results, the EFDC_Explorer Output option must be turned on. This is done in the EFDC_Explorer Linkage frame by checking the Link EFDC Results to EFDC_Explorer check box. The Linkage Output Frequency is used to determine how often EFDC will write the output. This is then multiplied by the Output Interval to determine how often various model results will be written. For example, if the Linkage Output Frequency is 60 minutes, then an Output interval of 6 will lead to model results being written every 6 hours for that parameter.

Which data to output is selected in the Primary Model Results Linkage Options frame, with the sub-item check boxes, such as Velocities. Water Surface must be turned on for EFDC_Explorer to post process any of the model results.

Figure 1  Timing/Linkage Tab: EE Linkage.

If simulating water quality with the full sediment diagenesis option turned on, EFDC_Explorer can display the spatial and temporal sediment fluxes and concentrations if the user enables the Sediment Diagenesis check box. Because the sediment processes are slow, as compared to water column processes, the user has the option to output the diagenesis data at a slower frequency as described above.

If simulating sediment transport with the maximum number of bed layers > 1, EFDC_DSI can write the sediment bed properties by layer. Given that the sediment bed dynamics are generally slow relative to the water column dynamics, the user may want to set the sediment bed layer data output interval to a number greater than 1. For example, if the user is writing the water column data every hour but the user only wants sediment bed date every day, the user would specify an output interval of 24 to tell EFDC_DSI to output the sediment data only every 24^th water column snapshot.
The user may also manually adjust the output interval for the Rooted Plant & Epiphyte Model when applicable.

High Frequency Dates

The High Frequency Dates option (EFDC_Explorer Linkage#Figure 1) is an EFDC+I option that inserts higher frequency output snapshots into the base snapshot frequency defined in the Linkage Output Frequency. This function allows the user to use a larger base snapshot frequency, resulting in smaller output files and faster post processing times, and still capture specific times in detail. This approach is very useful when matching model results to specific sampling events.

Selecting the Domain check box and then setting the calendar date (or Julian date), frequency and duration of the snapshots, creates high frequency snapshots covering the whole model domain for the time specified. This approach will clearly lead to slower run times than the approach described above.

Checking the Cells checkbox (as in EFDC_Explorer Linkage#Figure 1) and selecting the Dates button provides the user with the option of creating high frequency snapshots of individual cells as shown in EFDC_Explorer Linkage#Figure 2. The user may create any number of subsets of the model domain by inputting a number in the Number of Subsets text box. Further subsets may be added one at a time with the Add Subset button.

Figure 2   Timing/Linkage: High frequency snapshots by subset

The Subset frame shows which subset is in view at any given time and allows the user to cycle through the subsets with the Current Subset arrows. The Julian start time, duration (in hours) and frequency (in minutes) are set by the user for each subset of cells. Cells are defined by their x, y coordinates and may be designated with an ID for easy reference. The full set of subsets are saved with the Save button.