THE INFLUENCE OF THE LAST WIDENING AND DEEPENING OF THE SUEZ CANAL ON ITS TiDAL MOTION

THE INFLUENCE OF THE LAST WIDENING AND DEEPENING
OF THE SUEZ CANAL ON ITS TiDAL MOTION
By
G.F. SOLIMAN*
*National Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries, Alexandria, Egypt.
Key words: Suez Canal, tidal motion.
ABSTRACT
The tidal motions in the Suez Canal and its lakes have been
numerically investigated using the depths distribution as processedfrom
the Admiralty Chart No. 2431 of1967, and a recent bathymetric chart
which was essentially produced in December 1994 to carry out the
present study. The canal has been divided into six segments which are
treated in consequence for each time step. Linear and quadratic friction
terms were used according to the type of each segment. Friction
coefficients of 2.5 * 10-2 for the quadratic relationship and 6.0 * 10-1
sec-1for the linear relationship, were considered.
The results obtained using the old depths distribution are in good
agreements with observations. The strongest tidal current ofabout 35.0
em/sec was found in the region between Port-Tawfik and Genifa near
shalloufa. The tidal volume ofthe Bitter Lakes is very large compared
with the tidal volume of the southern part of the canal, so that the
currents are relatively high between Port-Tawfik and Genifa. The tidal
range was found to decrease linearly between Port-Tawfik and Genifa
and between Port-Said and Lake Timsah.
The maximum speed of ebb and flood current occurs about 50
minute after the low and high water at Port-Tawfik and Port-Said, while
it is out ofphase in the Great Bitter Lake.
The amplitudes andphase angles ofthe M2-tide and tidal currentfor
the present canal showed an increase in the southern part ofthe canal