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ABSTRACT: The hydrodynamic circulation of the Gulf of Patras has been studied using three-dimensional numerical simulations, performed using the MIKE 3 FM (HD) code. During the winter months, the wind-induced flow creats strong currents near the coasts and at the Rio-Antirio straits. Strong, tidal currents have been simulated to develop at the straits of Rio-Antirrio, and when the wind is also blowing, nearshore gyres develop, the sense of rotation of which is dictated by the wind direction. During the early summer months, starting from June, stratification develops and the flow becomes baroclinic. The simulations show that the currents induced by medium-strength winds, are restricted in the epilimnion, while the tidal action causes the generation of internal waves at the straits of Rio-Antirio. Salient features of the summer circulation, which were simulated, are strong upwellings and the development of a central cyclonic gyre The numerical predictions have been validated against satellite images, which closely confirm the simulation results.
INTRODUCTION The Gulf of Patras (also referred to, below, as the Gulf) and the adjacent eastern Ionian Sea are among the busiest transport routes in Greece, because the port of the city of Patras connects Western Greece with the rest of Europe. These regions and particularly the northwestern part of the Gulf are expected to be the focus of attention in the coming years, since it has been found that in this area lies one of the largest oil inventories in southern Europe. As a consequence of the on-going increase in industrial and transport activities in the wider area, marine pollution will also be of concern. This, is in addition to the current environmental pollution loads in the Gulf, which include continuous sources, such as municipal sewage discharge, and sporadic ones, such as oil spills and ship-related pollution which have been recorded in the area.
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