Sand waves in the North Sea mapped by continuous reflection profiling

Abstract

An area of sand waves is delimited on the bed of the North Sea, east of Flamborough Head, Yorkshire, by means of a Continuous Reflection Profiler (C.R.P.) and an echo sounder. The effectiveness of the C.R.P. system is demonstrated and excellent profiles are obtained enabling the investigation of the topography of the sea floor and the physical form of the sand waves. The plotting of the direction of sand-wave migration confirms previous suggestions of a convergence of tidal streams off Flamborough Head.