This project aims to improve understanding of the physical processes underlying small-scale fluctuations in sea surface currents and turbulent dispersion of materials in the northwest coastal area of the Gulf of Tonkin. Through the use of modern and efficient monitoring technologies, advanced analytical methods, combined with high-resolution numerical modeling will provide a better understanding of the processes that govern the path of materials or pollutants in the marine environment.
This project is expected to answer three main research questions as follows:
– Which monitoring method is most effective in studying coastal currents with large space and high resolution?
– Which technology is most effective for determining material transport and turbulence dispersion patterns from flow observations?
– How reliable are the results of numerical simulations of coastal circulation and dispersion processes, and can the results be improved in accuracy with current observations?
Project impact
- Scientific aspect
– Improve understanding of physical processes under the coastal flow field in the Gulf of Tonkin and fluctuations in the Red River estuary area. The Red River estuary area is where a large amount of material (waste, sediment, pollutants…) is transported from the mainland to the Gulf of Tonkin.
– Better understanding of the role of small-scale turbulent motions in the formation of spatial distribution of natural materials (fish eggs, phytoplankton) … or artificial materials (microplastics, Pollutants…). - Socio-economic aspect
– The results of the project can be beneficial to establish action strategies to protect the sea, reduce pollution, restore coastal ecosystems, enhance climate adaptation and promote sustainable exploitation of the sea.
– The results are expected to be beneficial in building an effective decision support system during accidental pollution events or extreme conditions in the context of global warming. - Marine scientific research team development
– The project brings together a team of young scientists at Vietnam’s leading marine research units. Through practical and theoretical training, it is possible to improve capacity in coastal monitoring technologies as well as turbulence dispersion forecasting.
– The project plans to organize a scientific summer school to train students and young researchers on hydrodynamic modeling and model optimization methods.
