Estimation of residence time in Khor Abdulla and Khor al-Zubair Northwest Of Arabian Gulf, using numerical modeling technique

Abstract EN

A two dimensional depth-average hydrodynamic model that combined with a transport model was applied to study the hydrodynamic characteristics and residence time distribution in Khor Abdulla and Khor Al-Zubair which locate in the northwest of Arabian Gulf.

The model was run for two months with a time step of 5 sec.

The model results of water level and flow velocities were in a good agreement with measurements.

The result of simulations and measurements indicate that there are asymmetries in the tidal wave that propagates farther in inland direction with a gradual increase in their amplitude and hence in its tidal range.

The results indicate that residence time in the study area is a site-specific, and show a heterogeneous distribution.

However, the longest residence time is observed in two sites, UMR1 with 12 days and KZL with residence time that exceeds 25 days.

The data provide useful information and will be significant in the future assessments of coastal developments in this region.