• Journal of Korean Society of Coastal and Ocean Engineers
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.383-392
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• 2011

The basic research of the estuarine circulation at Gyeong-Gi bay has not been well studied up to now, although coastal development pressures have been continuously increased. To understand the oceanographic phenomena at the Han River estuary, it's essential to understand the propagation characteristic of tidal wave which is the strongest external forcing in this region. In this study, we investigate the tidal wave propagation characteristics along the 3 major channels using observation data and numerical model. It is found that 3 channels are all hyper-synchronous and the most important physical factor controlling the tidal wave propagation is topographical convergence of estuary shape and friction. The result of analytic solution at ideal channel considering the topographical convergence and friction show that the contribution of physical role of convergence and friction varies at 3 different channel. And the ratio of convergence and friction at Yeomha channel is four times larger than Seokmo channel. Because of this effect, the location of maximum amplitude at Yeomha channel is showed up downward than Seokmo channel. The ratio of decreasing amplitude and increasing phase per unit distance between stations is bigger than Seokmo channel. Although 3 major channel show a hyper-synchronous pattern, Yeomha shows more frictionally dominant channel and Seokmo channel is more dominantly affected by convergence effect.