In search of a consistent and conservative mass flux for the GWCE

Two methods for computing local mass flux for a continuous Galerkin finite element formulation of the Generalized Wave Continuity Equation (GWCE) are derived and a third method is discussed in light of the first two. The GWCE is shown to not conserve mass locally, while it can be shown to conserve a certain quantity locally. The two derived methods are demonstrated for a realistic tidal flow problem in the Bight of Abaco, Bahamas.