We extend the applications of a new method for splitting operators in partial differential equations introduced by us (A. Rouhi and J. Wright, A new operator splitting method for the numerical solution of partial differential equations, Comput. Phys. Commun. 85 (1995) 18–28, and Spectral implementation of a new operator splitting method for solving partial differential equations, Comput. Phys. (1995), to be published.) to equations in two spatial dimensions, and show how the method allows the use of explicit time stepping methods in some instances when other methods require implicit time stepping. This odd-even splitting method also enables one to increase the order of accuracy of time stepping in a straightforward manner. Our main examples will be the two-dimensional Navier-Stokes equations and the shallow water equations. In the first example we show how the pressure term can be dealt with in simple geometries. We will then discuss the treatment of the diffusion term. Next we will discuss how fast waves can be treated by explicit methods using the odd-even splitting, while retaining all stability and accuracy advantages of usual implicit methods. Our example here will be the shallow water equations in two dimensions.
