Modelling the water mass exchange through navigational channels connecting adjacent coastal basins - application to the Channel of Potidea (North Aegean Sea)

摘要

The research objective is the detection of the mechanism of the water massexchange through a navigational channel connecting two adjacent coastalbasins. The research involves the application of a mathematical model inparallel to in-situ measurements. The hydrodynamic circulation in thegreater area of the NW Aegean Sea is modeled by means of a barotropiccirculation model. Wind, Coriolis and Tide are the main forcings taken intoaccount. The flow through the channel is resolved at a subgrid scale bymeans of a local open channel flow model. The comparison between fieldmeasurements, recorded during a limited period, and the model resultssupports the model verification. The study is integrated by an operationalapplication of the model under various realistic forcings. The results helpto gain a better understanding of the mechanisms regulating the water massexchange and the consequent interaction between two adjacent connectedcoastal basins. From the case study of the Potidea channel it is revealedthat the water mass exchange under mean wind forcing is of the same order asthe one induced by the tidal forcing.