Effect of bathymetric changes on residence time in Buenaventura bay (Colombia)

Abstract

In order to study the effects of dredging on the residence time of the water in Buenaventura Bay, a 2D finite elements hydrodynamic model was coupled with a particle tracking model. After calibrating and validating the hydrodynamic model, two scenarios that represented the bathymetric changes generated by the dredging process were simulated. The results of the comparison of the simulated scenarios, showed an important reduction in the velocities fields that allow an increase of the residence time up to 12 days in some areas of the bay. In the scenario without dredging, that is, with original bathymetry, residence times of up to 89 days were found.