Modeling of Hydrodynamic and Lithodynamic Coastal Processes in the Harbour Area

Abstract

One of the problems in the design of ports is the assessment of coastal sediment movements near structures. The article presents materials for assessing the impact of port facilities on the processes of coastal erosion/accumulations in the area of Gelendzhik Bay (Black Sea). All the main processes of interaction of waves, currents and sediment movement occur in the coastal zone, therefore, the study presents the possibilities of complex application of hydrodynamic and lithodynamic models. In this work, the wind wave models Wave Watch III and SWAN were used. As the initial data, the data of the NCEP/NCAR reanalysis of wind fields in the period from 1989 to 2012 were used. To simulate currents, sediment transport and lithodynamic processes, a model of two-dimensional COASTOX–CUR currents generated by waves and wind, COASTOX-SED sediment transport together with the COASTOX–MORPHO bottom reshaping model was used. In the simulation scenario, a sequence of the 5 strongest storms from the period under consideration was considered. Analysis of washout zones/accumulations have shown that areas of intensive bottom reshaping are associated with the most intense currents. It is shown that the construction of the port facilities will not have a significant impact on the lithodynamic processes in the Gelendjik bay.