Tide comparison: Using the z_eff.dat files the Tides in figure 1 were plotted in Excel.

The tides show the phases of measured (blue line) to the model (Red line) are out of phase and the amplitudes dont match. This indicated that a phase shift was needed and the Boundary Tides used in the Model was then compared.

Figure 1 : Tide comparison (BLUE - Measured Tides and RED - Model Tides)

The boundary tides of Gaspar Grande representing the tide at the Bocas del Dragon and the Erin point tide represent the Serpants mouth in figure 2 indicates that they are both in phase and it would suggest based on the tidal comparison in figure 1 that there must exist a phase shift between these two points.

Figure 2: Showing the Boundary points Tide comparison

A tide prediction website (Worldtide.com) was used to determine the phase shift between the boundary points. The phase shift of 107 degrees was found from Erin to Gaspar Grande and is indicated by figure 3.

Figure 3 : Boundary tide comparison to determine phase shift

The phase shift was applied to the Gaspar Grande Tidal constituent phase angles and the model was run again. Figures 4, 5 and 6 show the Comparison of the measured and model tides with and without the phase shift.

Figure 4

Figure 5

The tide comparison in the figures 4,5 and 6 shows the 1) At Bonasse Pier the phase and amplitude closely match with small variation of amplitude. 2) Point fortin, Carnage, Point lisas, Port of Spain showed much improvement of phase lining up but are still slightly out of phase. 3) All the points along the Western side of the Gulf that is Rio Pedernals, Punta Gorda and Pierto del Hierro did not show significant improvent to the phases lining up the ampitudes were still off. Discussion of the Tides amplitude and Phase There are basically four reasons as to why the amplitudes do not match along with the mis match of amplitudes. 1- The Bathemmry map used in this model is old (1965). The measured tide data used are from 1994. This difference in time may contribute to a change in the batthemettry over time, such that the level of sea water form the surface to the bottom would be expected to vary due to sedimentation over that period of time. This can directly relate to the bottoming at the low tides at Point lisas, Port of Spain and carnage. 2- In this model no wind loading and Guiana current are used. The absent of these two parameters are indicated by the amplitude for the High and low model tides being shorter that the measured tides. The effect wind loading and Guiana current would have had on the system would be increasing the rate of the tide meaning there would be higher high tide and lower low tides. These two parameters were not introduces in the model due to there not being available enough wind data for the entire gulf along with the measurent of the Guiana current in litreture being insuffiect. 3- The Boundary points in the model also play a part in the modelling process, at the land and sea boundary the velocities are set to zero. This can be seen as and extreme case in the flow of the seawater to the land but in reality some of these points especially the point near the river openings are not fixed. At low tides the sea water flows into the river up to certain point for expamle at the Caroin river the effect of the sea water intrusion goes all the way up to caroin bridge during low tides. 4- The Tideso near Venezuela that is the western side of the gulf are found to look more distorted and again can be related to the boundary point and the Mesh used in the Gulf. At the Coast of Venezula most of the these land are mangroves swamps. Meaning that the sea water intrusion would have greater effect inland as the water can freely intercet with the swamp. In the model the mesh is generated at the outskirts of the swamp and hence would not currently be able to model these areas accuraelty.