THE INFLUENCE OF WIND AND TIDE ON THE HYDRODYNAMICS OF A HIGHLY FRICTIONAL COASTAL LAGOON SYSTEM

This study is focused on the influence of wind and tide on the hydrodynamics of a tropical coastal lagoon in Telchac, Yucatan, Mexico. The system is very shallow (z < 1m) and covered with a rim of mangrove forests, both aspects that enhance its frictional characteristics. The lagoon is an important habitat for the exotic flamingo birds and several species of fish, but also is used for fishing and serves as a harbor for small boats. Water level and velocity data gathered during one month in the summer of 2009, shows the expected attenuation of the tidal signal in the head of the system, but during the final ten days of the campaign there is an unusual behavior where the water level in the lagoon head was between 16% and 33% bigger than in the lagoon mouth. Analysis of the data shows a high coherence between the sea level and the wind velocity, primarily at diurnal frequencies. This reinforces the hypothesis of a synchronization between strong sea breezes and the predominant diurnal tide in such a way that amplification of the diurnal signal can occur at the head. Numerical simulations using the Delft3D model are performed to confirm this hypothesis and to better understand the conditions under which such phenomenon can occur. The effects of basin orientation, shape and depth are investigated with the numerical model.