Flow estimation for the Persian Gulf using a kelvin wave expansion

Abstract

Hydrodynamic simulations of tidal currents in the Persian Gulf are presented. Water surface level and velocity were determined by a Kelvin wave expansion as a new hydrodynamic calibration tool for estimating the dynamical field and flow patterns. This procedure, leading to the Kelvin wave expansion, uses data of tidal constituents from co-tidal charts. Results of the simplified model were compared with both measurements as well with the results of a full reference hydrodynamic model to reveal that this calibration approach is a promotion not only towards simplicity, but also towards accelerated computation. Short-term oil spill simulation was ascribed in the present study. Comparison of the actual and simulated oil spill drift was found acceptable, allowing for future application in risk assessment analysis in the northern part of the Iranian waters.