TY - JOUR
T1 - Modelling studies on the processes that influence matter transfer on the Gulf of Thermaikos (NW Aegean Sea)
AU - Kourafalou, Vassiliki H.
AU - Savvidis, Yiannis G.
AU - Krestenitis, Yiannis N.
AU - Koutitas, Christophoros G.
N1 - Funding Information:
The study was partially funded by the MAST-III ELOISE European Union Project METRO-MED ( Dynamics of Matter Transfer and Biogeochemical Cycles: their modelling in coastal systems of the Mediterranean Sea ), CT 960049. We thank Anselme and M. Albuisson for the composition of the annually averaged CZCS data and C. Barbopoulos for assistance in the hydrodynamic modeling. The data of the sediment load were kindly made available to us by E. Karamanos of the Greek Institute of Geological and Mineral Exploration (IGME). Two anonymous reviewers provided comments that greatly improved the manuscript.
PY - 2004/1
Y1 - 2004/1
N2 - The development and application of a three-dimensional hydrodynamic and sediment transport model for the Gulf of Thermaikos, in the Northwestern Aegean Sea is presented. The processes that control the transfer of river-borne waters and fine-grained sediments are examined. These processes are: the overall basin circulation, the wind-driven flow, the buoyancy-driven flow that is associated with river plume dynamics and the sedimentation processes (flocculation, settling, deposition and erosion). We perform individual experiments, where only some of the processes are included, in order to study the different components of the transport mechanism separately. We also perform comprehensive experiments, where all processes are taken into account. It is found that a large percentage of the suspended particulate matter is deposited on the seabed of the Thermaikos Gulf and mainly near the river discharge sites. Although the sedimentation processes are of primary importance, the transport rates and pathways are greatly affected by the hydrodynamic processes that control circulation. Furthermore, the basin topography has a considerable impact on the transport, as the main rivers discharge near the narrow basin head and near areas of strong coastline curvature that act as sediment trapping zones.
AB - The development and application of a three-dimensional hydrodynamic and sediment transport model for the Gulf of Thermaikos, in the Northwestern Aegean Sea is presented. The processes that control the transfer of river-borne waters and fine-grained sediments are examined. These processes are: the overall basin circulation, the wind-driven flow, the buoyancy-driven flow that is associated with river plume dynamics and the sedimentation processes (flocculation, settling, deposition and erosion). We perform individual experiments, where only some of the processes are included, in order to study the different components of the transport mechanism separately. We also perform comprehensive experiments, where all processes are taken into account. It is found that a large percentage of the suspended particulate matter is deposited on the seabed of the Thermaikos Gulf and mainly near the river discharge sites. Although the sedimentation processes are of primary importance, the transport rates and pathways are greatly affected by the hydrodynamic processes that control circulation. Furthermore, the basin topography has a considerable impact on the transport, as the main rivers discharge near the narrow basin head and near areas of strong coastline curvature that act as sediment trapping zones.
KW - Aegean Sea
KW - Coastal circulation
KW - Numerical model
KW - Sediment transport
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U2 - 10.1016/j.csr.2003.10.009
DO - 10.1016/j.csr.2003.10.009
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:0742305621
VL - 24
SP - 203
EP - 222
JO - Continental Shelf Research
JF - Continental Shelf Research
SN - 0278-4343
IS - 2
ER -