Baroclinic Effect on Inner-Port Circulation in a Macro-Tidal Estuary: A Case Study of Incheon North Port, Korea

This study investigated the flow patterns and affecting factors in North Port of Incheon, South Korea, to understand inner-port circulation characteristics by applying an unstructured grid finite volume community ocean model (FVCOM) together with a field survey. The FVCOM considered tide, river discharge, surface winds, atmospheric pressure highest resolution 50 m around port. results were validated current velocity salinity observations. In main channel, difference between sea bottom increased during neap tide due weakened tidal currents, thus strengthening stratification. However, at inner port, strong stratification was observed spring as near-surface freshwater from upstream estuary moved relatively farther south port than that tide. Freshwater flowed into flood trapped semi-closed geometry horizontal gradient fresher water saltier channel current. As result, density-driven circulations associated near-bed currents towards maintained for more 3 h after high result implies baroclinic effect, mainly Port, could significantly affect residual harbor macro-tidal environment mass transport mechanism, such sediment transport. general, enhanced effects tides are not limited can have greater on other harbors suffer severe sedimentation problems.