Calibration of a telemac-2d hydrodynamic model for the port of San Pedro (southwestern Côte d’ivoire)

This study presents the calibration of a two-dimensional TELEMAC numerical model applied to the San Pedro port area, a strategic location on the Southwestern Ivorian coastline and the world’s leading cocoa export hub. The novelty of this work lies, first, in the inaugural application of the TELEMAC system to the San Pedro harbor, and second, in the establishment of reference calibration coefficients enabling the use of tidal forcing derived from the global TPXO model for the Ivorian coast. The TELEMAC-2D-TPXO configuration further integrates key coastal morphological features such as the Tombolo, groins, and headlands, thereby enhancing the refinement of simulations and providing a more accurate representation of local hydrodynamics. Calibration results identified optimal tidal range and sea-level adjustment coefficients of 1.04, yielding a root mean square error (RMSE) of 0.05. This TELEMAC model thus offers a robust foundation for hydrodynamic analysis and supports the planning of potential port expansions.