Scientific publications

The transformation of natural short-period sea-level oscillations (primarily tides and, to a lesser extent, storm surges) is studied resulting from a large-scale tidal power plant barrage assumed to be erected in the head of the Bay of Mezen. Some effects due to this transformation are estimated by means of predictive modelling and a number of expected characteristic changes in amplitudes and phases of tidal oscillations are described. Within the northern part of the White Sea (area of Voronka + Bay of Mezen), the transformation was found to be similar to earlier estimations but new results made it possible to assess the reach beyond the bounds of the metioned area. It is shown that the appreciable influence of transformation effects outside the area of Voronka + Bay of Mezen can be felt primarily within the Gorlo while in the central Basin and inner bays their manifestation is rather low. The changes in tidal energy balance of the sea due to the barrage construction are also considered showing noticeable reconstruction of energy horizontal fluxes and changes in energy dissipation. Possible ecological consequences are related mainly to the changes in position and dimensions of mixed, stratified, frontal and inter-tidal zones.