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Evaluation of Port Infrastructure in the face of Wave Agitation and Climate Change, Applying Numerical Models. Case Study: Manta Port Terminal, Ecuador

Abstract:

Port activity is important for economic development in many coastal zones, however, the structures that protect ports need to be tested against extreme wave events because the effects of climate change will increase the frequency and intensity. To be efficient in its operations, a safe docking of ships is essential into a port terminal, however, waves can generate disturbances that cause logistical delays and economic losses. Under this premise, the present study analyzes wave agitation inside the Manta Port Terminal (TPM) using computational models. First, an extreme wave event such as ENSO 1997-1998 is recreated and then possible extreme scenarios by 2050 and 2100 (including climate change) are simulated. These scenarios are evaluated with and without modifications of the port breakwater to analyze the level of protection it would offer in future scenarios. Results obtained from the SW module show the angles that affect the breakwater are 67% to the range of 300°-330° and 2% in the range of 1°-30°, this last range being the one that further agitation causes inside the port. Also, the results from the BW module show that for the ENSO 1997-1998 event (without breakwater modification), the levels of agitation exceed 1.5 m in the docks for waves that arrive with 15°, this being the threshold value with which can carry out loading and unloading operations to the different vessels within the TPM. It is also observed that these disturbance levels will be greater towards the years 2050 and 2100, generating greater problems, if no additional modifications to the breakwater are considered to mitigate these impacts. The proposals for modificatio ns to the breakwater, evaluated with the numerical model, show that it protects the docks from the TPM, reducing the levels of agitation within the berths by 14% compared to 15° waves.