Assessment of the Influence of Abiotic Factors on the Distribution of Zostera in the Inner Bays of Posyet Bay Based on Numerical Simulation Results

Abstract

Numerical experiments have been carried out to model hydrodynamic and morphodynamic processes to explain the nature of the spatial distribution of Zostera marina (eelgrass) in the inner bays of Posyet Bay. Hydrodynamic modeling has been performed using the Delft3D flow model. The Simulating WAves Near shore (SWAN) spectral wave model has been used to simulate wind wave parameters (direction of propagation, wave length and height, and near-bottom orbital velocities). The restructuring of the bottom topography under the influence of wind waves and the hydrodynamic influence of tidal and wind currents has been calculated with the Delft3D software package. The results of numerical experiments showed that the dynamics of the coastal bottom topography is determined by the nature of sediment motion in the coastal zone under the combined influence of waves and currents. A comparison of the modeling results with data on the distribution of Zostera showed a high correlation with model simulations of erosion and accumulation in the coastal zone.