Hydrodynamic Modelling of Ria Formosa (South Coast of Portugal) with EcoDynamo

Duarte, Pedro; Azevedo, Bruno; Pereira, António

http://hdl.handle.net/10284/827

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Authors

Duarte, Pedro

Azevedo, Bruno

Pereira, António

Abstract(s)

In this work a hydrodynamic model of Ria Formosa (South of Portugal) is presented. Ria Formosa is a large (c.a. 100 km2) mesotidal lagunary system with large intertidal areas and several conflicting uses, such as fisheries, aquaculture, tourism and nature conservation. This coastal ecosystem is a natural park where several management plans and administrative responsibilities overlap. The work presented here is part of a coupled hydrodynamicbiogeochemical model that includes pelagic and benthic processes and variables. It is a two-dimensional vertically integrated hydrodynamic model, based on a finite differences grid with a 100 m spatial step and a semi-implicit resolution scheme. It is forced by tide level changes at the sea boundary and river flows at the land boundary. The model includes a wetdrying scheme to account for the dynamics of the large intertidal areas. The purposes of this work are to: (i) describe the model; (ii) present its calibration and validation against field data; (iii) use the model to analyse circulation patterns and estimate the water residence time and (iv) analyse the dispersion of effluents rejected by the Waste Water Treatment Plants located in the lagoon.