Etude d'impact des changements hydrodynamiques induits par une ferme d'aquaculture de moules offshore

About 30 years ago, researchers of RBINS developed COHERENS (coupled hydrodynamical-ecological model for regional and shelf seas), a three-dimensional hydrodynamic model designed for a wide range of applications in coastal and shelf seas, estuaries, lakes and reservoirs. The main goal of this internship is to quantify the hydrographic changes (especially marine currents) induced by an offshore mussel aquaculture farm similar to the industrial project "Wesdiep Sea Farm", using the COHERENS model. The mussel aquaculture technique used in this project is known to disturb currents and turbulence in the water column. The goal of this internship is to implement the parameterisation of the impacts of the mussel droppers in the COHERENS hydrodynamic model as well as the addition of a new source term for turbulent kinetic energy production. Then, a sensitivity study will be carried out using the implementation made in a test case of a simplified mussel aquaculture farm. Note that in parallel to this report, a more complete report was produced for RBINS within the framework of this internship and the student has already been offered a contract of employment.

Report, Master thesis

North Sea, Aquaculture, numerical modelling