Journal of Tropical Oceanography ›› 2017, Vol. 36 ›› Issue (3): 34-45.doi: 10.11978/2016078CSTR: 32234.14.2016078

• Orginal Article • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Study on the tidal dynamics in Daya Bay, China — Part I. Observation and numerical simulation of tidal dynamic system

Wen WU1(), Yuhan YAN1,2, Dehai SONG2   

  1. 1. College of Oceanic and Atmospheric Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266100, China
    2. Key Laboratory of Physical Oceanography, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266100, China
  • Received:2016-08-23 Revised:2016-09-22 Online:2017-05-20 Published:2017-06-01
  • Supported by:
    Major State Basic Research Development Program (2015CB452905);China Postdoctoral Science Foundation (2015T80742)

Abstract:

This paper is the first part of our studies on the tidal dynamics in Daya Bay (DYB), China. It illustrates the recent field work results. We establish a three-dimensional, fine resolution, unstructured grid, coastal ocean model to reproduce the tides in DYB. The combination of observation and simulation in this paper gives a better description on the tidal dynamic system in DYB than previous studies. Shallow water tides, especially the sexta-diurnal tides increase fast in DYB, which become the most notable characteristic of DYB tidal dynamic system. In the Fanhe Harbour at the northeastern DYB, the amplitude of M6 tide reaches the maximum, at the same order as M4 and S2 tides. In the open sea outside DYB, the tidal current is dominated by a rotating shape; but once the current enters the bay, it turns to rectilinear quickly. In the main tidal channels, the magnitude of M6 tidal current is even larger than those of M4 and K1 tides. The distribution of tidal energy flux indicates larger tidal energy dissipation for higher frequency tides. In DYB, both the tidal energy dissipation rate and the net tidal energy dissipated in a semi-diurnal period are much larger by M6 tide than by M4, M2 and K1 tides. The observed Euler residual currents show different spring-neap variation in magnitude inside DYB, and reveal the influence of the coastal current outside the bay. The numerical simulation shows a multi-vortex of residual current, and indicates poor water exchange in the bay.

Key words: Daya Bay, tidal dynamic system, shallow water tide, sexta-diurnal tide, numerical simulation