Numerical simulation of the fate and accumulation οf suspended solids originated from the Black Sea into the North Aegean coastal area

The current paper deals with the study of the transport, accumulation and settlement of the suspended solids, that transport from the Black Sea into the North Aegean through the Dardanelles Straits, using the hydrodynamic model ELCOM and the environmental model CAEDYM. Climatological factors, such as air temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, wind direction, solar radiation, atmospheric pressure and rainfall that affect the water circulation and subsequently the suspended soil distribution in the North Aegean as well as the Coriolis force effect, are taken into account. The discharge, the salinity and the water temperature from the Dardanelles are taken to be seasonally varied. The simulation was conducted for suspended solids (SSOL) of 2μm diameter. The results indicate that the suspended solids are transported by the Dardanelles surface water plume in the North Aegean and are distributed and accumulated in its water column. The region of the North Aegean that is more affected by the presence of the Black Sea suspended solids is the Thracian Coastal Area.