Title: Simulation of currents in the coastal and offshore zone of the Old and New Patras Port (Western Greece)

Authors: Nikolaos Th. Fourniotis; Georgios M. Horsch

Addresses: Department of Civil Engineering, University of Patras, GR-26 500 Patras, Greece; Department of Civil Engineering, Technological Educational Institute of Western Greece, Megalou Alexandrou 1, GR-263 34 Patras, Greece ' Department of Civil Engineering, University of Patras, GR-26 500 Patras, Greece

Abstract: The currents that develop within the wider area of the New and Old Port of the City of Patras, located at the southeastern region of the Gulf of Patras, has been studied through three-dimensional numerical simulations. This area is shown to lie outside the breaking zone, so that the strength of the currents is dictated by the action mainly of the wind and, to a lesser degree, by the tide. Under the prevailing winds' forcing, the strength of the currents was found to be restricted in the upper well mixed layer, for the summer regime, and attain values greater but comparable to the corresponding winter currents. The bottom currents, however, were seen to dramatically decrease during the summer time, compared to the winter-time regime, because of the development of stratification. The numerically simulated values of the speed of the currents are corroborated by field data measured in the same region.

Keywords: Gulf of Patras; marine currents; prevailing wind; tides; tidal forcing; well mixed seawater; waves; stratification; MIKE 3 FM(HD); Greece; numerical simulation; coastal waters; offshore zone; current speed; hydrodynamic circulation.

DOI: 10.1504/IJGENVI.2016.074357

International Journal of Global Environmental Issues, 2016 Vol.15 No.1/2, pp.4 - 17

Received: 31 Jul 2014
Accepted: 21 Oct 2014
Published online: 25 Jan 2016 *

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