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.
Highlights
One of the major challenges for coastal engineers and coastal man agers is addressing the risk of coastal flooding
It has been suggested that large projects such as the Severn Barrage would modify the flows to an extent that the performance of distant tidal energy schemes might be compromised, Willis et al (2010)
All results shown have been computed from the output of the validated Irish and Celtic Seas Model (ICSM)
Summary
One of the major challenges for coastal engineers and coastal man agers is addressing the risk of coastal flooding. Less visible but of similar importance are the changes in seabed morphology due to sediment transport by waves and tides Such changes may alter both the flood risk and the sustainability of ports and harbours, as well as threatening the ecology of environmentally important coastal sites, (Environment Agency, 2021). An understanding of the tidal variations in sea level and currents is an important element in planning coastal defence, shoreline management strategies and siting of marine energy extraction. Potential exists for both tidal stream energy projects, (Bryden and Couch, 2006), that extract energy from the tidal flow, and tidal range projects that generate energy from the variation in potential energy provided by high tidal range, (Neill et al, 2018). Longer term tidal influences, arising from the cumulative effect of small asymmetries in the tidal oscillation, can have significant impacts on pollutant trans port and sediment movements, (e.g. Prandle, 1984; McCave, 1970)
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