The results of three-dimensional simulations of pollutant dispersion and transport phenomena induced by an offshore aquaculture plant located in the Gulf of Gaeta are analysed. Wind-forced hydrodynamic fields in the gulf are obtained by integrating motion equations in their complete three-dimensional and unsteady form with the finite volume method in an unstructured calculus grid, which allows to represent the complex morphology of natural environment object of the present study and monitor the evolution of free surface. Concentration fields are obtained by integrating, with the same technique, mass balance equations for pollutant. The results of simulations carried out for two different configurations, relating to dispersion phenomena on a daily and annual time scale respectively, show the need to highlight the three-dimensional aspect typical in these processes in order to correctly assess the environmental impact of offshore aquaculture plants.
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