Hydrodynamic Simulation of the Pagasitikos Gulf, Greece

Semi-enclosed sea basins have difficulty in recharging their waters due to limited communication with larger water bodies, with understandable consequences for their environmental status. This paper aims at the computational simulation of the hydrodynamic characteristics of the waters of the Pagasitikos Gulf (Greece), which has limited communication and water exchange with the Aegean Sea and is subject to intense environmental pressures The Estuary, Lake & Coastal Ocean 3d hydrodynamic Model (ELCOM 2.2) combined with its later version Aquatic Ecosystem Model-3d (AEM3D) were used for the simulation. The simulation included the topography of the area, the bay’s bottom geometry, atmospheric loadings, tides, the influence of the Coriolis force and boundary conditions. The hydrodynamic behaviour of the bay, water circulation, velocities at the surface and in depth, water recharge and residence time throughout the bay, density variation and other factors were examined to determine the impact of all these on the aquatic ecosystem.

Current Circulation and Water Renewal Time in the Enclosed Marine Area of Pagasitikos Basin, Greece

Greece boasts an impressive closed coastline stretching across 13,676 km, making it the largest in the Mediterranean basin and one of the largest in the world. Given the significant human activities that take place in coastal areas, understanding the behavior of the sea environment becomes crucial. In this study, we delve into the generation and movement of marine currents as well as the retention time and water age within the waters of Pagasitikos Sea inlet, Greece, through numerical simulation of hydrodynamic characteristics. The main examined points of the understudy region are the area of the port of Volos, the Trikeri channel where the ingress and egress of water from the Gulf takes place and the exchange of seawater through circulation of the Pagasitikos Gulf with the North Evian Gulf. In order to evaluate the results, they were compared with real field measurements and with simulation on a laboratory dummy of the same area. The computational simulation was performed with the ELCOM 2.2 numerical modeling tool and the AEM3D latest version and the main factors simulated are the tide, the consequence that Coriolis force, boundary conditions, the topography and bottom geometry of the bay and the actual meteorological conditions of a whole year.

The Hydrodynamic Behaviour of Euboean Gulf Coastal Areas and the Mixing of the Physico-Chemical Characteristics of Urban Sewage Discharged into Them under the Influence of Climate Change

The hydrodynamic circulation within the marine environment is a complex phenomenon, characterized by the interplay of strong tidal forces, atmospheric influences, and bathymetric features. The physical and hydrodynamic attributes of this flow play a pivotal role in promoting vertical mixing of seawater masses, thereby facilitating the integration of their physical and chemical parameters, including nutrients and oxygen. Additionally, they are instrumental in governing the dispersion and diffusion of pollutants originating from urban sewage, contributing to the overall water renewal process and environmental quality. This study investigates the potential impact of anticipated increases in average air temperatures on water column stratification in coastal regions susceptible to these dynamic influences. These areas receive treated urban sewage, and the study aims to assess how these temperature changes might influence the dispersion and mixing of pollutant loads present in these coastal waters.

The Impact of Climate Change on the Stratification of Coastal Areas of the Euboean Gulf and the Diffusion of Urban Wastewater in Them

Hydrodynamic circulation in a marine environment, characterized by the influence of strong tides, atmospheric loading and bathymetry, is a complex phenomenon. The physical and hydrodynamic characteristics of this flow are absolutely crucial for the vertical mixing of the sea masses and consequently for the mixing of their physico-chemical parameters, such as nutrients and oxygen, as well as for the diffusion and dispersion of passive pollutants, the recharge of the waters and the general environmental situation. This paper examines the effect of a future increase in mean air temperature on the water column stratification of coastal areas of interest, which are subject to the above loadings and receive treated urban wastewater, and how this increase could affect their diffusion and mixing of conservative pollutants contained therein.

Mixing Characteristics under Tide, Meteorological and Oceanographic Conditions in the Euboean Gulf Greece

The mixing characteristics in the marine environment of the Euboean Gulf are studied. The Estuarine and Lake CΟmputer Model three-dimensional hydrodynamic model has been used, to simulate numerically the effects of the strong tide conditions, the atmospheric forcing, and the oceanographic conditions. Water age was calculated in all computational cells and its renewal was examined with the “pure” water of the open sea both on the surface layers, where the effect of tide and wind was pronounced, as well as on the deeper layers and bottom. It was investigated if in surface layers the tide and the wind restore the water of the study area, thus preventing its renewal. In the remote area, the mixing and dilution of the pollutants contained in the treated municipal waste of five installed diffusers in this complex hydrodynamic field, generated by the aforementioned loads, is simulated. It was found that even a slight stratification density has the effect of restricting the vertical mixing and entrapment of dirt in the deeper layers. The combined impact of municipal waste effluents on selected areas of high economic, tourist and environmental value in the Euboean Gulf was assessed. It was found out, that the Diffuser 2 has a great effect in all the five selected areas, because it has greater waste water discharge and because of the tide, who produce a velocity field and transfer the pollutants in longer distances. It was also investigated indicatively in an important area, whether the presence of tide contributes to better mixing and dispersing of pollutants and to better water quality or, on the contrary, as it restores remote pollutants that were released earlier.

Flood Routing Simulation and Management in Hydrologic Basins with Artificial Reservoirs—The Case of Arda River

Major flood events occurred in the Arda River region in the last decades with great economic, social and environmental effects. A specific software package has been developed for the simulation of the flood runoff and routing process of the transboundary Arda River basin. The software package is taking into account the existence of the three cascade Bulgarian reservoirs aiming to flood protection and power optimization. Inflow estimations for duration of five days ahead and initial water levels at the three reservoirs are imported at the beginning of the simulation. The management tool includes all the alternative operation modes of hydropower plants, water released from spillways, and river and reservoir flow characteristics in order to optimize the total system (power generation and flooding costs) during the flood event. The developed software is also an efficient tool for the establishment of a flood warning system.

Hydrodynamic Circulation under Tide Conditions at the Gulf of Evoikos, Greece

Hydrodynamic circulation in the marine environment, characterized by the effects of the intense tide conditions, the atmospheric loading, and the bathymetry, constitutes a complex phenomenon. The present paper deals with the numerical simulation of the hydrodynamic circulation of the Gulf of Evoikos, which is characterized by the existence of a strong tide. The Estuarine and Lake CΟmputer Model three-dimensional hydrodynamic model has been used, which, besides the tide, takes into consideration the atmospheric forces acting on the surface of the study area, such as the solar radiation, the atmospheric pressure, the relative humidity, the rainfall height, the air temperature and the wind speed and direction. The physical and hydrodynamic characteristics of the water circulation under tide conditions are examined such as the salinity, the water temperature, the density stratification, the flow velocities, the tracer concentration, etc. These characteristics are absolutely critical for the diffusion and dispersion of passive pollutants, the water flow renewal, and the general environmental situation.

Hydrochemical Assessment of Groundwater and Dominant Water-Rock Interactions in Ooeides Aquifer System, North Greece

This paper deals with the assessment of main controls on groundwater chemistry in the aquifer system of Ooeides, Orestiada Region, NE Greece, contributing to the assessment of groundwater and surface water interaction, as well as water-rock interactions in the study area. Statistical analysis and relevant hydrochemical plots were employed in the analysis of groundwater samples from the study area during sampling campaigns for the years 2018, 2019 and 2020. The process included the collection and analysis of hydrochemical, hydrological and hydrogeological information and data regarding the aquifer system of the study area. Based on the statistical processing and the spatial analysis of the relevant results of the research, interesting and useful information emerged regarding: i) the recharge procedure of the aquifer from surface water of rivers and streams in the study area;ii) the relationship of groundwater composition with the type of rock through which water flows;iii) the impact on groundwater quality from anthropogenic activities (cultivation activities, municipal waste). From the elaboration of all the above, interesting findings and suggestions came out, which are considered useful for the optimal management of the hydrogeological regime of the study area.