Changes in Tidal Characteristics as a Result of the Construction of Seadike/Sea-walls in the Mokpo Coastal Zone in Korea

It is shown by numerical analysis via the adoption of a fully implicit scheme that the ` tidal choking ʹ is much less significant after the construction of sea-dike/sea-walls in the Mokpo coastal zone. Tidal records show an amplification of tidal range: extreme high tide is 60 cm higher and extreme low tide is 43 cm lower. This amplification may cause serious inundation in the event of a typhoon. Another problem is the reduction in tidal velocity which may cause deterioration of the coastal environment. In order to determine the ` ebb dominance ʹ near the Mokpo coastal zone, the extent of ebb dominance of each region was quantified by analyzing the M2and M4tidal constituents, and, in addition, the variation of ebb dominance in Mokpo Harbor was observed after the construction of the sea-dike/sea-walls. Ebb dominance appears to be more serious with each successive construction. This is probably caused by the elimination of tidal choking at Mokpogu. The transport mechanism of sediment and pollutants has been altered because of increased ebb dominance. However, ebb dominance will be somewhat lessened after the construction of the fourth sea-wall.