Modelo hidrodinámico y de oleaje del mar caribe : DELFT Caribe

Abstract

A two-dimensional large scale mathematical model is presented, which was later migrated to three dimensions, coupling hydrodynamics and waves in the southern Caribbean Sea, named Delft Caribe. The low spatial and temporal coverage of the oceanographic measurements in the study area and the need to know the waves, currents and tides, and the interaction between them at different points of interest led to the construction of this model. The Delft 3D modeling platform was used, which is extensively validated for multidimensional simulation of flows and transport phenomena. The model considers at its borders tidal forcing, atmospheric factors, discharges of tributaries and waves from the Atlantic Ocean. The model results were validated, statistically and qualitatively, for the dry and wet seasons. The good results of the model allow to carry out different experiments aimed to know the performance of the tool to calculate the following: • Velocities of surface currents. • Changes in directions and heights of waves. • Levels of waves. • Changes in the above mentioned variables due to the passage of cold fronts and hurricanes. It was observed that the waves in the southern Caribbean come parallel to the trade winds (Northeast to Southwest) from the Lesser Antilles, to the Guajira peninsula continuing toward the Central American coast of Honduras and Nicaragua, and simultaneously turning south to the Gulf of Urabá and the coasts of Costa Rica and Panama. The significant heights in the model area increased in the dry season and with the passage of storms, with wave heights of: • 6 m in the zone near Guajira Peninsula- • 3 m in the Urabá Gulf. • 3 m in the San Andrés Archipelago zone. The model simulates, in a coherent manner, the Caribbean Current and Panamá Colombia Gyre. The first comes from the Atlantic entering through the model east border and flows to the Guajira Peninsula, where it turns into the Gulf of Mexico and the second is a gyre flowing from Panama to Colombia, with higher velocities during the wet season when the Caribbean current is less strong.