ESTIMATION OF HIGHEST AND LOWEST ASTRONOMICAL TIDE ALONGSIDE THE COAST OF THE HORMOZGAN PROVINCE, IRAN

Boundary delimitation is a complicated subject because of both the number of real and potential boundary situations throughout the world, and the complexities of the delimitation process [1]. The highest high tide (also eferred to as Highest Astronomical Tide or HAT) is defined by Marine Science Australia and InternationalHydrographic Organization as the highest level which can be predicted to occur under average meteorological conditions and any combination of astronomicalconditions. Estimation of HAT is vital in order to delimitate the coastlines and shorelines. HAT is essentially a geometrical line which is introduced to enable the coastalmanagement and systems such as ICZM (integrated coastal zone management). In the present study, we addressed the estimation of HAT in the Hormozgan province of Iran by integrated use of different data sources. Basically, the specific 19-year period of tide observations must be taken and reduced to obtain the astronomical constituents for tide prediction. So, considering the fact that HAT can be derived from astronomical tide predictions [2], to enhance the reliability of the tide analysis and predictions, we have used andcompared data sources such as long-term and short-term observations, tidal models, national cartographic center predictions, Admiralty sources, hydrodynamic model [3],and available tidal constituents. HAT may not occur every year [4] and it depends on the mean sea level [5]. Mean tide level is not the same as mean sea-level because of theinfluence of the shallow-water tidal harmonics, although variations in the two values are highly correlated [6].