The vertical profiles of the tidal constituents and bed-induced dissipation of tidal signals in the Persian Gulf

Abstract

This study evaluates the hydrodynamic and tidal dynamics of the Persian Gulf using the Finite Volume Community Ocean Model (FVCOM) under two distinct forcing configurations: wind-and-tide and tide-only. A comprehensive statistical assessment was conducted to validate the model's performance in replicating tidal elevation and flow velocity against in-situ data as well as TPXO10 tidal predictions. Co-tidal maps revealed that semi-diurnal constituents (e.g., M2, S2) exhibit pronounced phase transitions, particularly at the Strait of Hormuz, highlighting the influence of regional bathymetry on tidal propagation. Diurnal constituents (e.g., K1, O1) showed more uniform phase distributions, suggesting reduced sensitivity to topographic constraints. The analysis of tidal amplitudes underscored the dominance of the M2 and K1 constituents. Vertical analyses of current speeds revealed distinct patterns of tidal attenuation between diurnal and semi-diurnal constituents. The diurnal constituents undergo greater amplitude reductions with depth compared to semi-diurnal constituents, indicating stronger bottom interaction processes for longer-period tides. While the M2 constituent demonstrated minimal sensitivity to wind forcing, diurnal constituents like K1 showed significant attenuation influenced by seasonal stratification and atmospheric conditions. These findings underscore the critical interplay between wind forcing, tidal dynamics, and seasonal variability in shaping the hydrodynamics of the Persian Gulf.