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A numerical modeling‐based predictive methodology for the assessment of the impacts of ship waves on YOY fish
Author(s) -
Fleit Gábor,
Hauer Christoph,
Baranya Sándor
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
river research and applications
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.679
H-Index - 94
eISSN - 1535-1467
pISSN - 1535-1459
DOI - 10.1002/rra.3764
Subject(s) - habitat , environmental science , marine engineering , geology , fish <actinopterygii> , fishery , ecology , engineering , biology
The effects of inland navigation on the aquatic ecosystem are numerous. One of the most relevant impacts from the ecohydraulic point of view is ship‐induced waves, resulting in the local and temporary alteration of the hydrodynamic regime, especially in shallow water areas. In this paper, a novel hydrodynamic modeling‐based evaluation framework is presented and tested for the prediction of habitat use and drift risk of juvenile fish during wave events of different intensities. A vertically resolved numerical wave tank was built up using field measurements of a real vessel‐generated wave event from the Hungarian Danube. High‐frequency pressure time series were utilized to numerically reproduce the phase accurate wave trains, while acoustic Doppler velocity time series were exploited for the verification of the model. Results of the spatiotemporally resolved hydrodynamic model were combined with data from the literature to explore a case study of juvenile Nase ( Chondrostoma nasus ). Results highlighted the significant horizontal extension (10–15 m) of the area exposed to decreased habitat suitability and increased drift risk. Moreover, the model revealed significant vertical variabilities in the investigated near‐bank area as well, emphasizing the relevance of depth resolved hydrodynamic modeling in ecohydraulic investigations.