Two dimensional Hydrodynamic Simulation in Labuan Bajo Waters, Indonesia.

Abstract

Based on its strategic location, Labuan Bajo is a golden triangle between Komodo Island and Toraja Land as a national tourism sector. This makes information about the condition of Labuan Bajo waters very important. One of the oceanographic parameters that have an important role in determining the condition of a body of water is ocean currents. Ocean currents are the movement or displacement of water masses caused by waves, wind, water density, and pressure. In their movement, currents have a direction and speed that can form ocean current patterns. One method that can see patterns of sea surface currents is two-dimensional hydrodynamic modeling. This study aims to identify patterns of surface currents and tides that occur in Labuan Bajo waters. The method used in this study is quantitative descriptive with a two-dimensional hydrodynamic modeling approach along with nested-model techniques to provide the model results with a smaller resolution to get the phenomenon that occurs in those waters. The data used is bathymetry, wind, tide, and High-Frequency Radar (HF Radar) data as current validation. The results of surface current simulation in Labuan Bajo waters have the highest current of >1.12 m/s in the Western season and the lowest speed of 0.88 m/s in the Transition I season. The wind pressure gradient in the Western season affects the current speed in that season.