Tidal Current Circulation in Westhern Bali Sea Using a 2-D Hydrodynamic Model

Abstract

The circulation of tidal currents in the northern part of the Bali Sea was created using two main steps, namely a large model simulation and a small model simulation. The first step, a large model simulation detailing the circulation of tidal currents in the Bali Strait, uses a 2D barotropic hydrodynamic model that utilizes tidal-generating forces and Gebco bathymetry data with a 30-second resolution. In this large model simulation, tidal heights are procured which are then used as data for the small model. The second step, a small model circulation which focuses on the northern part of the Bali Sea, uses a 2D barotropic hydrodynamic model and utilizes tidal-generating forces from the large model and BIG (Geospatial Information Agency) bathymetry data with a 50-meter resolution. This smaller resolution is used to observe the effects of the cape in the northern Bali Sea. The tidal simulation is done for 29 days (May 2016) with inputted data in the form of bathymetry and tidal data at four points with open boundary conditions. The results of the tidal simulation indicate that tidal currents follow the phase of the tides. During high tides, the tidal currents move North and during low tides, the currents move South. Meanwhile, for the area around the Gondol Cape in Northern Bali, an eastward-westward current is observed.