Hydrodynamics and sedimentary processes in the modern Rion strait (Greece): Interplay between tidal currents and internal tides

Modelling of the Present Oceanographic Situation of the Gulfs of Patras and Corinth

“…Under flood tide, the deep-water Corinth's flow is not crossing the strait and is then flowing back towards the Corinthian Gulf (Figures 6 and7). This dynamic related to the tide is observed to be the opposite of what was previously described [14] but appears to be very consistent with the observed current direction and SSH (Figures 6 and7). Our observations of the changes in the current direction at this location suggest a different origin from what was already observed by Aspioti and Fourniotis (2025) [13].…”

“…The behavior of the internal wave generated by the density difference of the waters and the interaction between the surface and the bottom currents can be associated to the tides and their directions (Figures 6 and7). This conclusion is supported by the observation of a shift in current direction every 6 h (Figures 6 and7), consistent with the tidal phases at this location [14,33,34]. Since the Rio-Antirio Strait lies in a microtidal context [3,13,[34][35][36], as part of the Mediterranean Sea, the maximal tidal amplitude observed is less than 30 cm (Figure 7) [30,33] which appears irrelevant compared to the depth of the adjacent basins.…”

“…In their study, the direction towards the Patraic Gulf occurs under the influence of a 4 m/s NE wind and the flood tide, while the flow going to the Corinthian Gulf was observed under ebb tide and 4 m/s SW wind conditions [13]. In our study, we associate these movements more likely to the tides rather than the winds, classifying the strait as a tidal strait in a microtidal context [14,36,43]. Indeed, when the tides are negated, no evidence of strong movement are observed (Figure 12) and movement towards the Patraic Gulf appear during ebb tide (Figure 6).…”

Modelling of the Present Oceanographic Situation of the Gulfs of Patras and Corinth

“…Under flood tide, the deep-water Corinth's flow is not crossing the strait and is then flowing back towards the Corinthian Gulf (Figures 6 and7). This dynamic related to the tide is observed to be the opposite of what was previously described [14] but appears to be very consistent with the observed current direction and SSH (Figures 6 and7). Our observations of the changes in the current direction at this location suggest a different origin from what was already observed by Aspioti and Fourniotis (2025) [13].…”

“…The behavior of the internal wave generated by the density difference of the waters and the interaction between the surface and the bottom currents can be associated to the tides and their directions (Figures 6 and7). This conclusion is supported by the observation of a shift in current direction every 6 h (Figures 6 and7), consistent with the tidal phases at this location [14,33,34]. Since the Rio-Antirio Strait lies in a microtidal context [3,13,[34][35][36], as part of the Mediterranean Sea, the maximal tidal amplitude observed is less than 30 cm (Figure 7) [30,33] which appears irrelevant compared to the depth of the adjacent basins.…”

“…In their study, the direction towards the Patraic Gulf occurs under the influence of a 4 m/s NE wind and the flood tide, while the flow going to the Corinthian Gulf was observed under ebb tide and 4 m/s SW wind conditions [13]. In our study, we associate these movements more likely to the tides rather than the winds, classifying the strait as a tidal strait in a microtidal context [14,36,43]. Indeed, when the tides are negated, no evidence of strong movement are observed (Figure 12) and movement towards the Patraic Gulf appear during ebb tide (Figure 6).…”

Using 14 Years of Satellite Data to Describe the Hydrodynamic Circulation of the Patras and Corinth Gulfs

“…The most significant difference between regions is that the Strait and Entrance Region is always the coldest (Table 2). This was also observed by Rubi et al (2022) [7] for the entire year of 2019. The temperature difference is more pronounced in summer, with a 0.9 • C of difference in the mean SST compared to the far east of the Corinth Gulf and the Alkyonides Gulf Region (Table 2).…”

“…The upwellings along the northern coast of the Strait and Entrance Region were also evidenced by Lascaratos et al in 1989 [3]. However, their impacts and dynamics are detailed only in this work, with a potential link to the internal wave at the Rio-Antirio Strait influencing the redistribution of the currents [7]. Other differences seen this study include the observation of an anticyclonic gyre in front of Itea Bay; the cool surface current along the southern coast; details about the gyres in front of Antikyra Bay, Compared to the previous overview study on the general hydrodynamic circulation of the Corinth Gulf proposed by Lascaratos et al (1989) [3], this study provides more detailed information (Figure 11).…”

Modelling of the Present Oceanographic Situation of the Gulfs of Patras and Corinth

“…Under flood tide, the deep-water Corinth's flow is not crossing the strait and is then flowing back towards the Corinthian Gulf (Figures 6 and7). This dynamic related to the tide is observed to be the opposite of what was previously described [14] but appears to be very consistent with the observed current direction and SSH (Figures 6 and7). Our observations of the changes in the current direction at this location suggest a different origin from what was already observed by Aspioti and Fourniotis (2025) [13].…”

“…The behavior of the internal wave generated by the density difference of the waters and the interaction between the surface and the bottom currents can be associated to the tides and their directions (Figures 6 and7). This conclusion is supported by the observation of a shift in current direction every 6 h (Figures 6 and7), consistent with the tidal phases at this location [14,33,34]. Since the Rio-Antirio Strait lies in a microtidal context [3,13,[34][35][36], as part of the Mediterranean Sea, the maximal tidal amplitude observed is less than 30 cm (Figure 7) [30,33] which appears irrelevant compared to the depth of the adjacent basins.…”

“…In their study, the direction towards the Patraic Gulf occurs under the influence of a 4 m/s NE wind and the flood tide, while the flow going to the Corinthian Gulf was observed under ebb tide and 4 m/s SW wind conditions [13]. In our study, we associate these movements more likely to the tides rather than the winds, classifying the strait as a tidal strait in a microtidal context [14,36,43]. Indeed, when the tides are negated, no evidence of strong movement are observed (Figure 12) and movement towards the Patraic Gulf appear during ebb tide (Figure 6).…”

Using 14 Years of Satellite Data to Describe the Hydrodynamic Circulation of the Patras and Corinth Gulfs

“…The most significant difference between regions is that the Strait and Entrance Region is always the coldest (Table 2). This was also observed by Rubi et al (2022) [7] for the entire year of 2019. The temperature difference is more pronounced in summer, with a 0.9 • C of difference in the mean SST compared to the far east of the Corinth Gulf and the Alkyonides Gulf Region (Table 2).…”

“…The upwellings along the northern coast of the Strait and Entrance Region were also evidenced by Lascaratos et al in 1989 [3]. However, their impacts and dynamics are detailed only in this work, with a potential link to the internal wave at the Rio-Antirio Strait influencing the redistribution of the currents [7]. Other differences seen this study include the observation of an anticyclonic gyre in front of Itea Bay; the cool surface current along the southern coast; details about the gyres in front of Antikyra Bay, Compared to the previous overview study on the general hydrodynamic circulation of the Corinth Gulf proposed by Lascaratos et al (1989) [3], this study provides more detailed information (Figure 11).…”

Modelling of the Present Oceanographic Situation of the Gulfs of Patras and Corinth

“…Under flood tide, the deep-water Corinth's flow is not crossing the strait and is then flowing back towards the Corinthian Gulf (Figures 6 and7). This dynamic related to the tide is observed to be the opposite of what was previously described [14] but appears to be very consistent with the observed current direction and SSH (Figures 6 and7). Our observations of the changes in the current direction at this location suggest a different origin from what was already observed by Aspioti and Fourniotis (2025) [13].…”

“…The behavior of the internal wave generated by the density difference of the waters and the interaction between the surface and the bottom currents can be associated to the tides and their directions (Figures 6 and7). This conclusion is supported by the observation of a shift in current direction every 6 h (Figures 6 and7), consistent with the tidal phases at this location [14,33,34]. Since the Rio-Antirio Strait lies in a microtidal context [3,13,[34][35][36], as part of the Mediterranean Sea, the maximal tidal amplitude observed is less than 30 cm (Figure 7) [30,33] which appears irrelevant compared to the depth of the adjacent basins.…”

“…In their study, the direction towards the Patraic Gulf occurs under the influence of a 4 m/s NE wind and the flood tide, while the flow going to the Corinthian Gulf was observed under ebb tide and 4 m/s SW wind conditions [13]. In our study, we associate these movements more likely to the tides rather than the winds, classifying the strait as a tidal strait in a microtidal context [14,36,43]. Indeed, when the tides are negated, no evidence of strong movement are observed (Figure 12) and movement towards the Patraic Gulf appear during ebb tide (Figure 6).…”

Using 14 Years of Satellite Data to Describe the Hydrodynamic Circulation of the Patras and Corinth Gulfs

“…The most significant difference between regions is that the Strait and Entrance Region is always the coldest (Table 2). This was also observed by Rubi et al (2022) [7] for the entire year of 2019. The temperature difference is more pronounced in summer, with a 0.9 • C of difference in the mean SST compared to the far east of the Corinth Gulf and the Alkyonides Gulf Region (Table 2).…”

“…The upwellings along the northern coast of the Strait and Entrance Region were also evidenced by Lascaratos et al in 1989 [3]. However, their impacts and dynamics are detailed only in this work, with a potential link to the internal wave at the Rio-Antirio Strait influencing the redistribution of the currents [7]. Other differences seen this study include the observation of an anticyclonic gyre in front of Itea Bay; the cool surface current along the southern coast; details about the gyres in front of Antikyra Bay, Compared to the previous overview study on the general hydrodynamic circulation of the Corinth Gulf proposed by Lascaratos et al (1989) [3], this study provides more detailed information (Figure 11).…”