Characteristics of Tides in the Red Sea Region, a Numerical Model Study

Fawaz Madah, Roberto Mayerle, Gerd Bruss, Joaquim Bento

Coastal Research Laboratory-CORELAB, Research and Technology Centre West Coast (FTZ), University of Kiel, Kiel, Germany.

DOI: 10.4236/ojms.2015.52016                

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.

Keywords

Red Sea, Delft3D Modelling System, Amphidromic System, Co-Charts

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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