Introducing a high-resolution tidal model of one of the busiest Gulfs in the world - the Gulf of Panama.

The Gulf of Panama, located along the southern coast of Panama, is a region of significant ecological and economic importance. It is approximately 200 km wide, and connects the Pacific Ocean via the Panama Strait that is one of the world’s busiest maritime routes.

Despite being world famous, the Gulf of Panama is surprisingly underserved when it comes to oceanography. Access to accurate bathymetry and tidal information, both essential for navigation and marine studies, is notably limited.

Recognizing this gap, we set out to create a tidal model for the Gulf of Panama. The first step in the process was to gather available bathymetric data. However, an examination of the GEBCO dataset revealed significant gaps and inaccuracies, including inexplicable 300-meter-deep "holes" near the coastline (Figure 1). Such errors rendered the dataset unsuitable for precise tidal modeling.

Figure 1. Bathymetry from GEBCO

To address this, we reconstructed the bathymetry from scratch. This involved digitizing detailed bathymetric charts and incorporating additional data from the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute. The result was a much-improved representation of the Gulf’s seabed (Figure 2), providing a more reliable foundation for tidal modeling.

Figure 2. Map showing the sounding points and contours used to construct the bathymetry (left) alongside the resulting bathymetric model (right).

Using the refined bathymetry, we ran the SCHISM model in 2D barotropic mode to simulate tidal dynamics. Model validation involved comparing the SCHISM output with tidal gauge data from Balboa (Figure 3). Additionally, Figure 4 presents a comparison of the model results using the GEBCO bathymetry, highlighting the substantial impact of accurate bathymetric data on tidal modeling and its critical role in enhancing prediction accuracy.

We hope this work serves as a foundation for future studies. If you’re interested in learning more about this project or accessing the data, feel free to reach out.

Figure 3. Comparison of measured and modeled tidal elevations at the Balboa tidal gauge.