ABSTRACT
ABSTRACT: This paper reports a study of the hydrodynamics in the Mar Piccolo, a coastal basin in the northern zone of the Gulf of Taranto (Italy), constituted of two interconnected embayments. Field measurements were assessed during three surveys carried out in spring-summer 2002. The analysis of the circulation induced by some different selected forcings was carried out with the use of the 3D Princeton Ocean Model, which is a sigma coordinate, free surface, ocean model, which was developed in the late 1970’s by Blumberg and Mellor, with subsequent contributions from other people. Simulations in baroclinic condition have been forced by a homogeneous and stationary wind field, a simple tidal wave, a constant outflow and a vertical stratification of temperature and salinity. Input data have been imposed referring to the field measurements. The outputs of the runs have been compared with measured velocities, in order to highlight the capability of the model to reproduce some typical aspects of the circulation pattern of the basin under particular conditions.
