Tidal current modeling of the Caspian Sea using PMODynamics

Monitoring and Modeling studies of the southern Caspian Sea is one of the national projects, performed by the Ports and Maritime Organization (PMO). Simulating currents in the southern continental shelf regions of the Caspian Sea is one of the important parts of this project. To aim that, PMODynamics is applied. PMODynamics, Persian Model for Ocean Dynamics, is a 2D Iranian numerical model developed by Iranian modelers. PMO has invested on developing this software for coastal engineering studies. This study is focused on applying the hydrodynamic module of PMODynamics to simulate wind-driven currents in the southern continental shelf stations of the Caspian Sea. Considering of tidal body forces is one of the special capability of PMODynamics. In this paper effects of tidal currents in Caspian Sea in addition to wind driven currents simulated by PMODynamics. To validate the results, vertical current speed profiles have been measured for one year by ADCP at six stations called Anzali port and Amir Abad port (at 10 meters depth), Roudsar and Astara port (at 30 and 10 meters depth).