Analysis of Nearshore Local Effects on Tidal Behaviour at Imam Khomeini Port and Musa Bay

Abstract

Tidal waves have very different dynamics in shallow waters, in comparison to deep sea waters. When a tidal wave approaches to nearshore areas, it might be affected by different factors such as resonance, shoaling in landward direction, funneling due to the decrease of the width, damping due to bottom friction, and partial reflection at abrupt changes of the cross-sections of estuary. Coriolis force can also deflect the tidal waves in large areas, which may lead to the changes of tidal ranges near the coasts. The high increase of tidal range at Musa Bay, located at the north-western part of the Persian Gulf, is studied in this paper. Numerical modeling confirms the occurrence of the resonance for a period of about 8-9 hr., where the amplification factor is gradually decreased with further increase of the wave period. Results implied that resonance, funneling and shoaling are the three most effective parameters which amplify the tide in this area.