새만금 방조제 끝막이 공사에 따른 해류구조 변화

Abstract

The Saemangeum sea dyke, 33-km long, is being constructed in west coast of Korea. The dyke construction was started in November 1991 and completely closed on 21 April 2006. The tidal currents and circulation pattern in the Saemangeum area were drastically changed after final closure of the dyke. The changes of tidal currents and structure of low-frequency currents were examined using by current data observed at four reference points around the final closure. The tidal currents have been greatly reduced in the inner area and in the outer area of the southern dyke after final closure. In the outer area of the northern dyke, the tidal currents have been slightly increased and the major axes of tidal ellipsis of M2 and S2 have been changed from east-northeast to north-northeast direction. Low-frequency currents with a direction to landward have been changed to seaward at a reference point in the inner area. The circulation pattern off the Sinsi Gate has been changed to two layer system which the flows are opposite direction in the upper and lower layers.