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A comprehensive study of the tides around the Welsh coastal waters
,
Y. Yin,
Iain Fairley,
Harshinie Karunarathna ,
Ian Masters ,
Dominic Reeve
Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, Volume: 254, Start page: 107326
Swansea University Authors:
Jose Horrillo-Caraballo , Iain Fairley, Harshinie Karunarathna , Ian Masters , Dominic Reeve
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© 2021 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY license
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DOI (Published version): 10.1016/j.ecss.2021.107326
Abstract
A computational model has been used to explore characteristics of the barotropic tide around the Welsh coast in detail for the first time. Proper understanding of tidal characteristics is vital for the sustainable use of marine resources; particularly for industries such as marine energy extraction,...
| Published in: | Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science |
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| ISSN: | 0272-7714 |
| Published: |
Elsevier BV
2021
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| Online Access: |
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| URI: | https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa56553 |
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| Abstract: |
A computational model has been used to explore characteristics of the barotropic tide around the Welsh coast in detail for the first time. Proper understanding of tidal characteristics is vital for the sustainable use of marine resources; particularly for industries such as marine energy extraction, aggregate mining, aquaculture, as well as regulators and agencies with responsibilities for the resource management and public safety. In shallow water areas, the influence of bathymetry and energy dissipation leads to the generation of higher harmonics that cause complex tidal phenomena. The Celtic and Irish seas, which enclose the Welsh coast (UK), are heavily industrialised shallow water seas with macro-to mega-tidal semi-diurnal tides. It is shown that tidal distortion is significant in the Bristol Channel (S. Wales) and in the large shallow estuaries of the N. Wales coast; for much of the west coast this is only significant in localised areas around headlands and islands. Tidal dominance switches from flood dominant in the south and north to ebb dominant on the west coast. Highly complex patterns of vorticity in the tidal residual flow are noted. All these factors mean that careful siting of industry and coastal management interventions is required to avoid disruption of the natural system. |
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| Keywords: |
Tides, Computational model, Welsh coastal waters, Residual currents, Shallow water harmonics, Vorticity |
| College: |
Faculty of Science and Engineering |
| Funders: |
UKRI, NE/N013573/1 |
| Start Page: |
107326 |