Author(s): Mohamed Mahgoub; Ayman Jourieh; Reinhard Hinkelmann
Linked Author(s): Reinhard Hinkelmann
Keywords: No Keywords
Abstract: The possible changes in the flow and salinity balance in the Nile estuary due to the anticipated sea level rise were investigated in this research. For this purpose mathematical modeling was used to simulate two-dimensional flow and salinity transport processes. The computational domain comprises the last reach of the Rosetta branch of the Nile River between the last barrage and the Mediterranean Sea. The TELEMAC2D modeling system which solves the two-dimensional (velocityaveraged) Saint-Venant equations has been chosen for the numerical simulation of the reach under study. The results revealed that for average conditions the water level variations are very small and the flow velocities are very small, too, with a maximum of about 8cm/s. The sensitivity of the model to the turbulence viscosity and friction coefficient is very small. The intrusion of the salt water will increase from 4. 8 km for an idealized storm under average conditions to be about 7. 1km, 9. 6km and12. 7km when the sea level increases by 0. 25m, 0. 5m and1m respectively. To maintain the current balance an extra water flow has to be discharged from the last barrage.
Year: 2012