Hydrodynamic Modeling of the Roman Harbor of Portus in the Tiber Delta: The Impact of the North‐Eastern Channel on Current and Sediment Dynamics

Abstract

This study examines the hydrodynamics of the Roman harbor of Portus during the Trajanic period (second century A.D.). We have evaluated the impact of the north‐eastern channel on water circulation and sediment resuspension within the harbor in relation to the problem of sediment infilling. We used a 2D numerical model to compute the distribution of the depth‐averaged current velocity, bed shear stress, and kinetic energy induced by each of the four prevailing local winds. First, the results confirm the persistent conditions for sediment infilling over the entire western harbor basin, even when the north‐eastern channel is operational; these conditions being present for 61.3% (40.3%) of the summer period and up to 68% (44.2%) of the winter period in the south‐western harbor basin. Second, the results show that favorable conditions for navigation occur in the central basin, leading to the landing installations, under the S 180°, SE 135°, and NE 22° winds when the north‐eastern channel is operational; these conditions being present for 21% of the summer period and 51.3% of the winter period. Inversely, the access to the landing installations with both channels operating remains affected by sediment infilling, for 40.3% of the summer period and 16.7% of the winter period.

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