Abstract
Nador lagoon is a coastal system connected to the sea through a narrow and shallow inlet; understanding its hydraulic performance is required for its design and operation. This paper investigates the hydrodynamic impacts of the whole lagoon due to tidal waves using a numerical approach. In this study we use a two-dimensional, depth-averaged hydrodynamic model based on so-called shallow water equations solved within triangular mesh by a developed efficient finite volume method. The method was calibrated and validated against observed data and applied to analyze and predict water levels, tidal currents, and wind effects within the lagoon. Two typical idealized scenarios were investigated: tide only and tide with wind forcing. The predicted sea surface elevations and current speeds have been presented during a typical tidal period and show correct physics in different scenarios.
Highlights
An understanding of the physical oceanography of coastal areas provides a foundation for the study of processes such as hydrodynamics, as well as a basis for effective management of the coastal zone
The aim of this paper is the application of a developed 2D finite volume method to the Nador lagoon, based on the well-established shallow water system including bathymetric forces, Coriolis effects, friction terms, and eddy-diffusion stresses, simulating the impact of wind and tidal waves on the hydrodynamics circulation in Nador lagoon; here the flow
The external hydrodynamics of this coastal area depend on the tidal regime, the littoral drift currents, and the prevailing waves
Summary
An understanding of the physical oceanography of coastal areas provides a foundation for the study of processes such as hydrodynamics, as well as a basis for effective management of the coastal zone. Integrated water management of endangered coastal areas could be able to restore their ecosystems. Numerical models have been developed and applied to coastal areas, in order to simulate hydrodynamic and environmental processes. These models constitute an administrative tool for decision makers in order to apply the right measures to restore the endangered coastal environments. Coastal lagoons are areas of shallow, coastal water, wholly or partially separated from the sea by sandbanks, shingle, or, less frequently, rocks. Lagoons show a wide range of geographical and ecological variations. The most important of them in Moroccan coasts is Nador lagoon
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