Tides and Currents in SC
:
The SC is divided into three main sectors according
to the nature of tide in each.
The characteristics of each can be summarized as
follows:
A - The Northern Sector
This part is located between Port Said and the G.B.L.
- The height of tide at Port Said CO-oscillates
with the tide of the Mediterranean Sea with 0.50 meter extreme tidal
range (Difference between highest and lowest levels) at Spring tides.
This tidal range decreases gradually going South, to be about 0.20
meter at the entrance of Lake Timsah.
- In this sector, the peak tidal current may reach
1.0 knot (in case of no wind).
- Currents may be doubled by strong prevailing
winds.
- Peak currents occur about 50 minutes after predicted
HW and LW at Port Said.
- The duration and velocity of currents in this
sector are greatly affected by the relative mean sea levels between
the Mediterranean Sea, the Bitter Lakes and the Red Sea as follows
:
- In Summer : between July and October, the
mean sea level at Port Said is slightly higher than that of the
Bitter Lakes. This difference (which reaches its maximum of about
0.20 meter in September), beside the great evaporation at the Bitter
Lakes, causes the predominance of the Southward current in duration
and velocity.
- In Winter : between December and May, the
Mean sea level at the Bitter Lakes is slightly higher than that
of Port Said. This difference which reaches its Maximum of about
0.30 meter in January, causes the predominance of the Northward
current in duration and velocity.
B - The Lakes Timsah and Bitter Lakes
- The Lakes along the Canal have an important
role in dampening the effects of sudden meteorological changes.
- The Bitter Lakes with a surface of about 250
Km˛ reduce the vertical movement of the tide to a minimum between
Km. 100 and Km. 130.
- The high spring tide range (MHWS) in G.B.L.
may reach 0.25 meter
- The phase of the vertical tide in G.B.L. is
about 3 hours later than that of Port Tewfik.
- The vertical tide in Lake Timsah is almost in
phase with the tide in G.B.L.
C - The Southern Region
This part is located between Port of Suez and the Bitter Lakes
- The height of tide in Suez CO-oscillates with
the tides of the Red Sea with extreme tidal range of about 1.90 meters
at Spring tides. This range decreases gradually going North till the
Bitter Lakes entrance to be 0. 15 meter at Genefa.
- The tidal volume of the Bitter Lakes is very
large compared to the tidal volume of the Southern section. Consequently,
the currents are relatively strong and almost uniform between Port
Tewfik and Genefa.
- In this region, the Northward current is called
Flood and the Southward current is called Ebb.
- Peak currents occur about 50 minutes after predicted
HW and LW at Port Tewfik.
- At the entrance of the Canal, Km. 159, the Flood
tide starts at an average of 3 hours after the Low Water at Suez.
The Ebb tide 3 hours after High Water in Suez.
- Generally in Summer, the duration of the Ebb
exceeds the average of 6 hours. In Winter, the Flood is the predominant.
The Ebb is prolonged by “Strong Northerly Winds”. The Flood is prolonged
by “Strong Southerly Winds“.
- In this region, the average peak current is
about 1.5 knots. In Spring tides, current may reach 2.5 knots.
- The change of current occurs 5 to 10 minutes
later on the bottom of the Canal, than on its surface.
D - Current Buoys
In the Canal, there are current buoys indicating
the direction of the current :
Head Current : Red & White horizontal bands
or I reflector at night.
Stern Current : Black & White vertical stripes or 2 reflectors
at night.
These buoys are laid in the following positions:
El Raswa |
Km. 3.710 |
East |
Port Fouad |
Km. 2.750 |
» |
Ras El Ech
(E) |
Km. 12.800 |
» |
Ras El Ech
(W) |
Km. 14.304 |
» |
Tineh |
Km. 24.775 |
» |
Cap |
Km. 35.420 |
» |
Kantara |
Km. 45.130 |
» |
Ballah (E
& W) |
Km. 54.770 |
» |
Ferdan |
Km. 64.894 |
» |
Ismailia |
Km. 76.127 |
» |
Toussoum |
Km. 86.780 |
» |
Deversoir
(E & W) |
Km. 97.845 |
» |
Kabrit (E
& W) |
Km. 120.827 |
» |
Genefa |
Km. 133.950 |
» |
Chaloufa |
Km. 146.125 |
» |
Port Tewfik |
Km. 160.300 |
» |