Numerical modelling of tidal flows in the Arabian gulf

Abstract

The main purpose of this thesis is the prediction of tidal movements in the Gulf, which are essential factors for shipping, fishing, and coast protection. The search for suitable predictions of tide propagation and flow problems has undergone a great advance with the arrival of the digital computer. The development of numerical methods permits the formulation of different efficient hydrodynamic models to compute every tide phenomenon with precision and to handle a great amount of information. A two dimensional hydrodynamic model for tidal flow in the Arabian Gulf is developed. The basic hydrodynamic equations are solved with an explicit finite difference method using a staggered grid to reproduce the various tidal constituents in the Arabian Gulf Tidal forcing term at the open boundary (Strait of Harmouz) is approximated in a novel way. A detailed discussion is presented on the treatment of open and closed boundaries. Simulations have been made over several representative tidal cycles using this finite difference model, and the results compare favourably with existing data in different locations in the Arabian Gulf. Contour diagrams for amplitudes and phases are presented for the four dominant constituents M2 (principal lunar), S2 (principal solar), K, (lunar solar diurinal) and O, (principal lunar diurnal) in the Arabian Gulf. Due to the explicit nature of the finite difference scheme, this hydrodynamic model can be efficiently implemented on parallel as well as serial computers.