TITLE:
Characteristics of Tides in the Red Sea Region, a Numerical Model Study
AUTHORS:
Fawaz Madah, Roberto Mayerle, Gerd Bruss, Joaquim Bento
KEYWORDS:
Red Sea, Delft3D Modelling System, Amphidromic System, Co-Charts
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Marine Science,
Vol.5 No.2,
March
30,
2015
ABSTRACT: In this work, a
two-dimensional numerical model based on Delft3D modelling system was setup to
study the tidal characteristics of the Red Sea. Besides that, analyses of
available observed time series of surface elevations were carried out.
Sensitivity analyses of the numerical model were carried out by testing
different model parameters aiming at selecting optimal settings. The model
performance was evaluated against available time series of surface elevation
observations. RMS error was found to vary from 0.03 to 0.1 meter, while the ADM
values range from 0.02 to 0.05 meter. On the whole, the model is able to reproduce
the tidal wave in the Red Sea, reflecting a consistent level of agreement with
the observations and previous works. The model results suggest that the
semidiurnal tidal waves play a major role in the region except in the central
part of the Red Sea where amphidromic system exists. Major semidiurnal and
diurnal tidal constituents were computed to generate co-charts and form factor.
The results have revealed that the distribution of the co-charts of the major
semidiurnal constituents M2, N2, and S2 show the existence of anticlockwise
amphidromic system in the central part of the Red Sea at about 19.5°N,
north of the Strait of Bab el Mandeb at 13.5°N and in the Gulf of
Suez. The chart of the diurnal tidal constituent K1 showed a single counterclockwise
system in the southern part of the Red Sea centred around 15.5°N.
The form factor chart shows the appearance of diurnal character in the central
part of the basin and the northern end of the strait. The hydrodynamics
patterns under spring and neap tidal conditions were also analysed (during
flood and ebb conditions). Model results showed that currents generally are
weak and strongest currents are present in the strait of Bab el Mandeb and Gulf
of Suez.