Abstract
In this article, a 3D numerical model has been applied for the simulation of residual currents in the Meghna Estuary, situated at the northern Bay of Bengal. Relevant meteorological and hydrological data at the Meghna Estuary has been analyzed to identify the seasonal variation which has been employed as model input. Numerical investigations revealed that during the monsoon as well as winter periods a counterclockwise circulation exists in the estuary with a northward flow in the Sandwip Channel and another northward flow in the Shabazpur Channel. Numerical experiments suggest that tidal current is the primary forcing factor behind the northward flow through the Sandwip Channel. During the monsoon period, residual current in the northern Bay of Bengal may be occasionally dominated by strong South-West monsoon wind (average 4 ~5 m/s and maximum 20~30 m/s) which may create back water effects in the Meghna Estuary and alter the salinity distribution in the estuary. During winter (dry) season the counter clockwise circulation in the estuary exists but the circulation becomes weaker and it is not influenced by the weak north-easterly (1.5~3 m/s) wind. Thus, tidal current and Coriolis force were found to be the primary forcing factors that govern the residual circulation in the Meghna Estuary.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Ali, A. (1995). A numerical investigation into the back water effect on flood water in the Meghna river in Bangladesh due to the south-west monsoon wind. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 41: 689-704.
As-Salek, J.A. (1998). Coastal trapping and funneling effect on storm surges in the Meghna Estuary in relation with the cyclones hitting Noakhali-Cox’s Bazar coast of Bangladesh. Journal of Physical Oceanography, 28(2): 227-249.
Azam, M.H., Jakobsen, F., Kabir, M.U. and J.M.A. Hye (2000). Sensitivity of the tidal signal around Meghna Estuary to the changes in river discharge: A model study. Proceeding, Twelfth Congress of the Asia and Pacific Division of the International Association for Hydraulic Engineering and Research (Bangkok, Thailand), 375-384.
Chowdhury, J.U., Rahman, M.R. and M. Salehin (1997). Flood Control in a Floodplain Country, Experiences of Bangladesh. Report prepared for ISESCO, Morocco.
Chowdhury, J.U., Watkins, D.W., Rahman, Md. R. and Md. F. Karim (1998). Models for cyclone shelter planning in Bangladesh. Water International, 23: 155-163.
Fischer, H.B., List, E.J., Koh, R.C.Y., Imberger, J. and N.H. Brooks (1979). Mixing in Inland and Coastal Waters. Academic Press.
Flather, R.A. (1994). A storm surge prediction model for the northern Bay of Bengal with application to the cyclone disaster in April 1991. Journal of Physical Oceanography, 24: 172-190.
Hussain, M.A. (2006). Numerical Simulation of Residual Currents and Water Quality in Semi-Enclosed Bays, Ph.D. Thesis, Submitted to Department of Civil Engineering, The University of Tokyo, Japan.
Islam, M.R., Begum, S.F., Yamaguchi, Y. and K. Ogawa (2002). Distribution of suspended sediment in the coastal area off the Ganges-Brahmaputra River mouth: Observation from TM data. Journal of Maritime Systems, 32: 307-321.
Jakobsen, F., Azam, M.H. and M.M. Kabir (2002). Residual flow in the Meghna Estuary on the coastline of Bangladesh, Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 55: 587-597.
Mellor, G.L. and T. Yamada (1982). Development of a turbulence closure model for geophysical fluid problems, Rev. of Geophysics and Space Physics, 20(4): 851-875.
Murty, T.S., Flather, R.A. and R.F. Henry (1986). The storm surge problem in the Bay of Bengal. Progress in Oceanography, 16: 195-233.
MWR (1997). Meghna Estuary Study, Salinity distribution in the estuary. Ministry of Water Resources, Bangladesh Water Development Board, Technical Note MES-004. Report by DHV Consultants BV for DGIS/DANIDA and GOB.
PDO-ICZMP (2004). Where Land Meets The Sea. Edited by M.R. Islam, Program Development Office for Integrated Coastal Zone Management Plan Project; Water Resources Planning Organization, Ministry of Water Resources, Bangladesh. University Press Limited, Dhaka.
Potemra, J.T., Luther, M.E. and J.J. O’Brien (1991). The seasonal circulation of the upper ocean in the Bay of Bengal. Journal of Geophysical Research, 96(C7): 12667-12683.
Sasaki, J. and M. Isobe (1996). Development of a long-term predictive model of water quality in Tokyo Bay. Proc. Estuarine and Coastal Modeling, ASCE: 564-580.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2012 Capital Publishing Company
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Hussain, M.A., Hossain, M.A., Haque, A. (2012). Hydro-Meteorological Impact on Residual Currents and Salinity Distribution at the Meghna Estuary of Bangladesh. In: Subramanian, V. (eds) Coastal Environments: Focus on Asian Regions. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-90-481-3002-3_7
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-90-481-3002-3_7
Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht
Print ISBN: 978-90-481-3001-6
Online ISBN: 978-90-481-3002-3
eBook Packages: Earth and Environmental ScienceEarth and Environmental Science (R0)