Effects of Tidal Stream Energy Exploitation on Estuarine Circulation and Its Seasonal Variability
Residual flows are of major importance in coastal areas, driving environmental processes such as sediment transport or nutrient dispersion. Consequently, in those areas where a large tidal stream energy resource is available, prior to the installation of a tidal farm, it is imperative to assess how...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-10-01
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| Series: | Journal of Marine Science and Engineering |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1312/10/10/1545 |
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| author | Marcos Sánchez David Mateo Fouz Iván López Rodrigo Carballo Gregorio Iglesias |
| author_facet | Marcos Sánchez David Mateo Fouz Iván López Rodrigo Carballo Gregorio Iglesias |
| author_sort | Marcos Sánchez |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Residual flows are of major importance in coastal areas, driving environmental processes such as sediment transport or nutrient dispersion. Consequently, in those areas where a large tidal stream energy resource is available, prior to the installation of a tidal farm, it is imperative to assess how energy extraction affects the residual flows and, in particular, upwelling events. In this paper, the potential effects of different configurations of tidal stream farms on the residual circulation and its seasonality are analysed by means of a case study: Ria de Ortigueira, the westernmost of the Galician Rias Altas (NW Spain). For this purpose, a 3D numerical model was implemented and validated against field measurements. Next, a total of eight case studies, including the operation of bottom-fixed and floating converters under typical summer and winter scenarios, considering upwelling favourable winds, were studied. Overall, when a tidal farm operates, regardless of its configuration and the forcings considered, the resulting general residual flow pattern does not experience significant modifications. This pattern is characterized by a 2D circulation in the inner ria and a positive estuarine circulation in the middle and outer ria. The largest modifications of the residual flow are apparent in the vicinities of the plant, with maximum values of about 0.05 ms<sup>−1</sup>. Outside this area, the alteration is lower than 0.01 ms<sup>−1</sup> and virtually negligible at some distance from the farm where upwelling events develop. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T19:59:46Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-368e0a419d4e403f94139d19faf774d4 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2077-1312 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T19:59:46Z |
| publishDate | 2022-10-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Marine Science and Engineering |
| spelling | doaj.art-368e0a419d4e403f94139d19faf774d42023-11-24T00:45:51ZengMDPI AGJournal of Marine Science and Engineering2077-13122022-10-011010154510.3390/jmse10101545Effects of Tidal Stream Energy Exploitation on Estuarine Circulation and Its Seasonal VariabilityMarcos Sánchez0David Mateo Fouz1Iván López2Rodrigo Carballo3Gregorio Iglesias4Departamento de Enxeñaría Agroforestal, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, EPSE, Rúa Benigno Ledo s/n, 27002 Lugo, SpainDepartamento de Enxeñaría Agroforestal, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, EPSE, Rúa Benigno Ledo s/n, 27002 Lugo, SpainDepartamento de Enxeñaría Agroforestal, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, EPSE, Rúa Benigno Ledo s/n, 27002 Lugo, SpainDepartamento de Enxeñaría Agroforestal, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, EPSE, Rúa Benigno Ledo s/n, 27002 Lugo, SpainMaREI, Environmental Research Institute & School of Engineering, University College Cork, P43 C573 Cork, IrelandResidual flows are of major importance in coastal areas, driving environmental processes such as sediment transport or nutrient dispersion. Consequently, in those areas where a large tidal stream energy resource is available, prior to the installation of a tidal farm, it is imperative to assess how energy extraction affects the residual flows and, in particular, upwelling events. In this paper, the potential effects of different configurations of tidal stream farms on the residual circulation and its seasonality are analysed by means of a case study: Ria de Ortigueira, the westernmost of the Galician Rias Altas (NW Spain). For this purpose, a 3D numerical model was implemented and validated against field measurements. Next, a total of eight case studies, including the operation of bottom-fixed and floating converters under typical summer and winter scenarios, considering upwelling favourable winds, were studied. Overall, when a tidal farm operates, regardless of its configuration and the forcings considered, the resulting general residual flow pattern does not experience significant modifications. This pattern is characterized by a 2D circulation in the inner ria and a positive estuarine circulation in the middle and outer ria. The largest modifications of the residual flow are apparent in the vicinities of the plant, with maximum values of about 0.05 ms<sup>−1</sup>. Outside this area, the alteration is lower than 0.01 ms<sup>−1</sup> and virtually negligible at some distance from the farm where upwelling events develop.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1312/10/10/1545tidal stream energy exploitationimpact assessmentresidual circulationseasonal variabilityupwelling3D numerical model |
| spellingShingle | Marcos Sánchez David Mateo Fouz Iván López Rodrigo Carballo Gregorio Iglesias Effects of Tidal Stream Energy Exploitation on Estuarine Circulation and Its Seasonal Variability Journal of Marine Science and Engineering tidal stream energy exploitation impact assessment residual circulation seasonal variability upwelling 3D numerical model |
| title | Effects of Tidal Stream Energy Exploitation on Estuarine Circulation and Its Seasonal Variability |
| title_full | Effects of Tidal Stream Energy Exploitation on Estuarine Circulation and Its Seasonal Variability |
| title_fullStr | Effects of Tidal Stream Energy Exploitation on Estuarine Circulation and Its Seasonal Variability |
| title_full_unstemmed | Effects of Tidal Stream Energy Exploitation on Estuarine Circulation and Its Seasonal Variability |
| title_short | Effects of Tidal Stream Energy Exploitation on Estuarine Circulation and Its Seasonal Variability |
| title_sort | effects of tidal stream energy exploitation on estuarine circulation and its seasonal variability |
| topic | tidal stream energy exploitation impact assessment residual circulation seasonal variability upwelling 3D numerical model |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1312/10/10/1545 |
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