An accelerated topology change algorithm for the contour advection method

The contour advection method is one of the Lagrangian approaches to the simulation of scalar field transport processed in quasi-two-dimensional inviscid incompressible flows considered in numerous applications of geophysical hydrodynamics. In order to conserve the computational efficiency when the tracer field structures become very complex, this method includes a contour editing procedure. This paper analyzes the basic steps of this procedure and proposes an accelerated topology change algorithm to substantially reduce computing cost. This work was supported by the Russian Foundation for Basic Research (project 12-05-31011) and by the Far Eastern Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences (projects 12-I-P19-02, N 12-III-A-07-051).