Tidal Current Pattern in the Surrounding Bintan Island Waters Based on Model Simulation

Abstract

Observation was conducted in the surrounding Bintan Island Waters to collect the ocean surface current data including moored and stationary recording during first transitional monsoon (March-April). Tidal current pattern in all regions of Bintan Island (north, east and southwest) is simulated using 2D hydrodynamic flow model fm with the flexible mesh and validated by moored observational current resulting a good accuracy rate (more than 80%). During flood tide phase, a dominant eastward current occurs in the northern part with the magnitude range 0.36 -0.55 m/s while northward current happens in the eastern part with the range 0.16 -0.22 m/s. When the ebb tide phase, the reversal current directions from flood tide condition are observed with the magnitude 0.78 -1.12 m/s and >0.165 m/s for northern and eastern part respectively. On the other hand, the dominant southeastward current continuously occurs in the southwestern part of the island both in flood and ebb tide phase.