Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler Research Articles

Comparison of Actuator Line Modelling of Tidal Power Kites with ADCP Measurements

The potential for tidal energy to be a part of future renewable energy systems is expanding. Tidal turbines deployed in open waters or channels are effective methods to harness energy from tidal currents. Sharing similar functionality with wind turbines, horizontally mounted tidal turbines require a minimum tidal current velocity to operate effectively. The Deep Green (DG) power plant which is based on a tethered kite model aims, however, to operate efficiently in tidal current velocities as low as 1.2 m/s. The kite wing is steered in a lemniscate trajectory ( ) almost perpendicular to the tidal current. In the trajectory, the relative flow velocity through the turbine attached to the wing reaches several times the tidal current velocity, enabling efficient operation of the turbine in relatively low-velocity tidal currents. This could reduce geographical limitations in installing large-scale tidal power arrays.
 In a previous project, numerical modelling of the DG was carried out in a tidal flow using Large Eddy Simulations (LES) and Actuator Line Modelling (ALM) implemented in OpenFOAM solver. ALM using momentum sources has been used in modelling wind turbines and has been validated against experimental data and observations. The ALM has been further developed in order to be able to model wings (here the kite) that move in arbitrary paths compared to horizontally mounted turbines with rotational paths. This numerical model for the DG kite in a tidal flow has, however, up to now not been validated against observations, which is beneficial before further analyses are made, e.g., optimization studies.
 In this study, Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP) observations taken in the wake of a DG are compared to the results from the numerical model under similar conditions. Comparing the numerical results directly with the observations leads to discrepancies, hence the model data is resampled in a similar way that the ADCP would measure and process data using a virtual ADCP for the model. Flow properties such as the instantaneous and time-averaged stream velocities are in turn compared for both the tidal flow without the DG and with a DG. The effect of the DG on the tidal flow is analysed using the model and the observations. After resampling the model data, the model and observations show good agreement. This suggests 1) that the DG model using ALM can be used for further analysis and 2) that whilst comparing model data with ADCP observations for studying the small-scale effects of tidal turbine wakes, care should be taken to sample the model data consistently with observations.

Measurements of tidal flow variability in Ramsey Sound, Pembrokeshire

The nature of the flow at in-stream tidal energy sites is particularly important for predicting array and device performance, and also for operations and maintenance planning. Previous developers have reported issues such as the choice of vessel, cost of operations, and the limits of operation of deployment vessels. The dynamics of the flow around slack water has been of particular interest at Ramsey Sound in Pembrokeshire (UK) for planning the recovery of an existing turbine, the Tidal Energy Limited ‘Deltastream’.
 This research presents flow characteristics of Ramsey Sound, based on analysis of Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP) measurements and tide gauge data from the nearby Standard Port of Milford Haven. The ADCP was located approximately 300 m across the channel, at the northern end of the channel, where the channel width was 1200 m and the mean depth was approximately 33 m. The flow dynamics were examined specifically to look at times potentially suitable for offshore operations Two weeks of data were used in the analysis, spanning a complete spring-neap cycle.
 Results demonstrate that flow velocities exhibited clear asymmetry, with stronger flows on the northerly directed flood tide than on the ebb. There was considerable variation in the measured current speed around the time of the maximum, suggesting large scale bed feature generated turbulence. The flood (northerly) current maximum was approximately in phase with high water at Milford Haven. Cross correlation indicated that the flow generally led the elevation by 20 minutes. In contrast to the expected theory, the current strength at mid-depth was stronger than at the surface on the maximum flood tide. The maximum flow speed in the tide was reasonably predictable from the tide range at Milford. A threshold-based analysis of the ADCP measurements allowed the duration of slow-moving water to be identified for operation planning.
 Operations and planning in light of sound understanding of hydrodynamics at tidal energy sites is critical for future economic success of the tidal energy sector. The results shown here from an ADCP deployment in Ramsey Sound have shown the capability to give useful tools for planning recovery operations.

Wake characterization of tidal turbines in the Pentland Firth using vessel-mounted ADCP measurements

Knowledge of the extension and velocity deficit induced by tidal turbine wakes is crucial for the optimization of tidal farm layouts, as the wake induced by an upstream turbine may substantially affect the power and loadings of a device located downstream. The MeyGen project is the largest planned tidal stream energy project in the world: it aims to develop up to 398 MW of installed power in the Pentland Firth, Scotland, a site with current velocities reaching up to 5 m/s. During Phase 1 of the project, four 1.5 MW turbines were installed, providing a valuable opportunity to investigate turbine wake dynamics in full scale. As part of Phase 2, site characterization campaigns were carried out to plan the deployment of additional turbines, representing 28 MW of tidal power capacity. Hence, the influence of the existing devices on the downstream flow was investigated.
 This work introduces the method used for studying wakes downstream tidal turbines using vessel-mounted Acoustic Doppler Current Profiles (ADCP) measurements. During two spring tides, the data was collected using an ADCP Teledyne Workhorse 600 kHz configured for along-beam velocities recording with 1 m resolution, as well as a GNSS Hemisphere Vector V102. The aim of this study was to map the flow downstream the turbines already installed on site, in order to identify and characterize the wake. Cross-flow transect measurements were conducted at various along-flow distances downstream from the devices, and repeated several times for improved accuracy. The cycles of repeated transects were performed both at flood and ebb tides, with the turbine running or switched off to spot potential differences introduced by device operation. Mean flow velocity estimates in the cross-section were obtained from raw data using the location-based velocity solver developed by Vermeulen et al. (2014). The method provides improved flow velocity estimates from vessel-mounted ADCP measurements because it strongly reduces the spatial extent over which flow homogeneity must be assumed, thus decreasing the chances that this assumption will fail. The reduction of the volume across which homogeneity must be achieved may represent a significant advantage for the investigation of tidal turbine wakes. To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first time that this method has been applied to wake characterization in a tidal stream energy site.
 Outputs of the analysis include mean velocity magnitude and direction, as well as velocity deficits associated with the wakes. The mean velocity estimates obtained in each cross-section are compared for cases when the turbine was running or switched off. Findings reveal that vessel-mounted ADCP transects, coupled with the location-based methodology for velocity estimation, provide a powerful tool for tidal turbine wake characterization. The final presentation and paper will provide the results of this study.

Improved Modelling of Vertical Velocity Profiles at a Tidal Energy Site

The Minas Passage, one of the Bay of Fundy’s tidal channels, located in Nova Scotia, Canada, presents significant potential for tidal energy development because of its highly energetic flows. As development in the region gains traction, the implementation of floating tidal energy platforms is a topic of growing interest. Tidal energy deployments in Minas Passage have historically been bottom-mounted and stationary, and the transition to arrays of floating turbines requires additional considerations. Particularly, this new application demands characterization of flow over the entire water column, including near the free surface. Complete vertical velocity profiles are essential for the successful deployment of floating tidal turbines, allowing for the estimation of key metrics such as tidal power and shear across turbine blades. Here we explore adaptations to the well-established logarithmic law of the wall with the goal of extending the vertical range over which a fitting regime based in classical turbulence theory can capture the observational records of flow in Minas Passage.
 Observational site characterization efforts in Minas Passage have primarily consisted of stationary, bottom mounted Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP) deployments. Using historical ADCP records collected in Minas Passage between 2008 and 2021, we fit the vertical profiles of velocity using three methods: logarithmic law of the wall, power law, and an adapted logarithmic law of the wall which includes a “wake function” to improve fits in the upper water column. We find that although the law of the wall results in well-fitted estimations of the vertical velocity profiles near the seabed, observational profiles consistently deviate from the fitted curves in the middle and upper water column, recording significantly faster flow speeds than predicted by the law of the wall. The adapted model, which is rooted in turbulence theory and includes a wake term, is successful in capturing flow in the outer layer of the water column and allows for reverse shear to be captured in the profile. The resulting fits show a sizeable reduction in error throughout the entirety of the water column compared to the law of the wall profiles, and consistently reduce the error in the vertical profile fits when compared to power law fits. In addition to resulting in low error for both individual and averaged vertical profiles of flow, the physical quantities estimated from the adapted model, including drag coefficient, agree well with those computed from the law of the wall, demonstrating the physical usefulness of the adapted model.

Measurements of the wake from a floating tidal energy platform

Wake measurements are critical for quantifying the hydrodynamic impacts of turbine presence and tidal energy extraction on the tidal flow. Turbine wakes are typically assessed using numerical models and controlled laboratory experiments, with only a few field studies available for the wakes of full-scale operating tidal turbines. In this investigation we present field observations of the combined wake generated by the four-turbine array mounted onboard Sustainable Marine Energy Canada PLAT-I 4.63. Measurements were conducted downstream of the platform in Grand Passage, a tidal channel in the southwest of the Bay of Fundy in eastern Canada in October 2020. Velocity data were obtained by a suite of mobile Acoustic Doppler Current Profilers (ADCP), both vessel-mounted and free-drifting. Data were collected during ebb and flood tides (and therefore with time-varying inflow velocity), and under different turbine operating conditions. The collected data were organized according to the turbine inflow velocity for ebb and flood tide. For each tide, the wake and undisturbed flow regions to the sides of the wake were identified. Vertical profiles of velocity in the wake were compared to inflow velocity measured by a current-meter onboard PLAT-I and with measurements in the undisturbed flow to the sides of PLAT-I wake. In all measurements the PLAT-I wake manifests as a reduction in flow speed at the depths spanned by the turbine rotors. The reduction is maximum near the platform for both ebb and flood. For flood, velocity profiles vertically mix less than 5 effective diameters downstream of the array, but velocities remain slower compared to the flow outside of the wake. Flow speed increases downstream, recovering approximately about 20 effective diameters from the platform. For ebb, the velocity reduction persists farther downstream compared to flood, there is less vertical mixing, and the wake shape is still present beyond 10 effective diameters downstream of the platform. Increased turbulence is also observed downstream of the platform, which recovers to levels similar to those of the surrounding undisturbed flow about 10 effective diameters downstream of the turbine for both ebb and flood. Comparisons of results between the two measurements approaches, and between the wake of clean and bio-fouled turbines are also explored.

INVESTIGATION INTO HOUSTON SHIP CHANNEL SHOALING AT THE BAYPORT FLARE IN GALVESTON BAY

Sedimentation at the confluence of the Houston and Bayport Ship Channels (Bayport Flare) in the Upper Galveston Bay, along the Gulf Coast of Texas, USA, is a costly issue requiring frequent dredging. Hydrodynamic and sediment dynamic processes in the Upper Galveston Bay, particularly around the Bayport Flare, are being explored using measurements from vessel mounted and fixed Acoustic Doppler Current Profilers (ADCP), Optical Backscatter Sensors (OBS), Tilt Current Meters (TCM), as well as densely spaced sediment surface grab samples, core samples, and salinity profiles. These field measurements are used to assess the causes of the extremely high sedimentation rates (approximately 30 cm per year based on dredging records between 2013 and 2017) seen in the Bayport Flare. The effect of salinity on the flocculation and sedimentation of particles near the ship channels is also being explored through laboratory experimentation.

Predicting Turbulent Vertical Velocity in the Ocean Surface Layer under Mixed Convective and Wind/Wave Forcing

Abstract Turbulence in the ocean surface layer is forced by a mixture of buoyancy, wind, and wave processes that evolves over time scales from the diurnal scale of buoyancy forcing, through storm time scales, to the annual cycle. This study seeks a predictor for root-mean-square w (rmsw), a time and surface layer average of turbulent vertical velocity w measured by bottom-mounted vertical-beam acoustic Doppler current profilers, in terms of concurrently measured surface forcing fields. Data used are from two coastal sites, one shallow (LEO, 15-m depth) and one deeper (R2, 26-m depth). The analysis demonstrates that it is possible to predict observed rmsw with a simple linear combination of two scale velocities, one the convective scale velocity familiar from the atmospheric literature, the other a scale velocity wS representing combined wind and wave effects. Three variants are considered for this latter scale velocity, the wind stress velocity alone and two forms using both and US, a Stokes velocity characteristic of the surface wave field. At both sites, the two-parameter fit using alone is least accurate, while fits using the other two variants are essentially indistinguishable. At both sites, the coefficient multiplying is the same, within error bounds, and within the range of previous observations. At the deeper site, the coefficient multiplying the wind/wave scale velocity wS is approximately half that at the shallow site, a difference here attributed to difference in wave character.

Scaling the Bubble Penetration Depth in the Ocean

AbstractBubble plume penetration depths have been identified as a key parameter linking subsurface turbulent kinetic energy (TKE) dissipation rates and whitecaps. From data collected in the Atlantic sector of the Southern Ocean, nominally 50°S 40°W, bubble plume penetration depths were estimated from Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler measurements of the acoustic backscatter anomaly. Bubble presence at depth was corroborated using independent measurements of optical scattering. Here, an effective wavelength, observations of significant wave height and atmospheric forcing were used to scale penetration depths of breaking waves under open ocean conditions. The parameterization was developed assuming a correlation between the observed penetration depth and an estimate of the TKE dissipation rate enhancement under breaking waves. The effective wavelength was defined from the effective phase speed based on a momentum and energy balance across the atmospheric wave boundary layer and was considered to be the largest actively wind‐coupled wave and representative of large‐scale breaking for wave ages ranging from 15 to 35 (i.e., 15 ≤ 〈cp/u*〉 ≤ 35). This yields a dimensional penetration depth parameterization in terms of inverse wave age and the length scales under consideration. The parameterization captures the bubble plume penetration depth with stronger forcing leading to deeper injections, reaching up to 9 m. Both length scales are effective at defining the depth of a wave‐affected layer in terms of bubble presence with the effective wavelength better collapsing the data under mixed conditions with deeper plumes associated to larger fractional whitecap coverage.

Baseline Measurements of Waves and Currents along the Coast of Oman

The coast of Oman is undergoing huge coastal developments in order to realize Oman Vision 2040, covering all the strategic sectors. Historical data of coastal hydrodynamic parameters is scarce, even though its importance for properly designed coastal structures is recognized. In the present study, Acoustic Doppler Current Profilers (ADCP) were deployed at eleven locations along the coast of Oman. These locations were selected based on their strategic importance for the country. The duration of the deployments were between 60 and 265 days. The measured data of the waves and currents were collected and analyzed using equipment-specific software and Excel. The significant wave heights can reach 2 m along the whole coast of Oman. The southern coast is dominated by swells. The maximum to significant wave height ratio is approximately 1.5, which is less than the value of 2 obtained using the Rayleigh distribution. The coastal currents are stronger along the southern coast than those along the northern coast. The range of current magnitude is between 0.02 m/s and 0.8 m/s. This baseline study will help the public authorities in establishing permanent hydrodynamic measurement stations along the coast of Oman. Moreover, these measurements will serve the practicing engineers in designing coastal structures along the coast of Oman.

Field based estimates of wave power at a nearshore Mediterranean locale for sustainable wave energy harnessing

Measurements from two Nortek/AWAC acoustic Doppler current profilers deployed for over three years at three sites were used to estimate the nearshore wave energy resource of the Gulf of Chania, in the island of Crete, Greece. Similar to other Mediterranean nearshore locations, low maximum and mean wave power values were observed, i.e., 133 and 2.57 kW/m at ∼20 m depth, respectively. Even though the study sites were in close proximity, considerable differences were observed, highlighting the nearshore effects of shoaling, refraction, and focusing on wave power estimates, and the need for long-term measurements. Short-duration storms (lasting a few days) with high wave power potentials were observed. During summer, the sea was much calmer. The nearshore wave power resource was found unsteady, with coefficients of variation well above 2, while the capacity factors of Pelamis and Oyster wave energy converters were 3.65% and 9.57%, respectively. As a result, existing technology is currently commercially unattractive for the Mediterranean nearshore. Marine renewable energy can play an important role in EU’s Blue Growth strategy and assist in meeting the 2050 carbon neutrality target. For this reason, research should focus on downscaling and redesigning wave energy technology to enable sustainable deployment in the Mediterranean nearshore.

Towards affordable 3D physics-based river flow rating: application over the Luangwa River basin

Abstract. Uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs), affordable precise global navigation satellite system hardware, multi-beam echo sounders, open-source 3D hydrodynamic modelling software, and freely available satellite data have opened up opportunities for a robust, affordable, physics-based approach to monitoring river flows. Traditional methods of river discharge estimation are based on point measurements, and heterogeneity of the river geometry is not contemplated. In contrast, a UAV-based system which makes use of geotagged images captured and merged through photogrammetry in order to generate a high-resolution digital elevation model (DEM) provides an alternative. This UAV system can capture the spatial variability in the channel shape for the purposes of input to a hydraulic model and hence probably a more accurate flow discharge. In short, the system can be used to produce the river geometry at greater resolution so as to improve the accuracy in discharge estimations. Three-dimensional hydrodynamic modelling offers a framework to establish relationships between river flow and state variables such as width and depth, while satellite images with surface water detection methods or altimetry records can be used to operationally monitor flows through the established rating curve. Uncertainties in the data acquisition may propagate into uncertainties in the relationships found between discharge and state variables. Variations in acquired geometry emanate from the different ground control point (GCP) densities and distributions used during photogrammetry-based terrain reconstruction. In this study, we develop a rating curve using affordable data collection methods and basic principles of physics. The basic principal involves merging a photogrammetry-based dry bathymetry and wet bathymetry measured using an acoustic Doppler current profiler (ADCP). The output is a seamless bathymetry which is fed into the hydraulic model so as to estimate discharge. The impact of uncertainties in the geometry on discharge estimation is investigated. The impact of uncertainties in satellite observation of depth and width is also analysed. The study shows comparable results between the 3D and traditional river rating discharge estimations. The rating curve derived on the basis of 3D hydraulic modelling was within a 95 % confidence interval of the traditional gauging-based rating curve. The 3D-hydraulic-model-based estimation requires determination of the roughness coefficient within the stable bed and the floodplain using field observation at the end of both the dry and wet season. Furthermore, the study demonstrates that variations in the density of GCPs beyond an optimal number have no significant influence on the resultant rating relationships. Finally, the study observes that which state variable approximation (water level and river width) is more accurate depends on the magnitude of the flow. Combining stage-appropriate proxies (water level when the floodplain is entirely filled and width when the floodplain is filling) in data-limited environments yields more accurate discharge estimations. The study was able to successfully apply advanced UAV and real-time kinematic positioning (RTK) technologies for accurate river monitoring through hydraulic modelling. This system may not be cheaper than in situ monitoring; however, it is notably more affordable than other systems such as crewed aircraft with lidar. In this study the calibration of the hydraulic model is based on surface velocity and the water depth. The validation is based on visual inspection of an RTK-based waterline. In future studies, a larger number of in situ gauge readings may be considered so as to optimize the validation process.

Validation of Actuator Line Modeling and Large Eddy Simulations of Kite-Borne Tidal Stream Turbines against ADCP Observations

The representation of tidal energy in future renewable energy systems is growing. Most of the current tidal turbine designs are limited by the minimum current velocity required for efficient operation. The Deep Green (DG) is a kite-borne tidal power plant designed to sustain efficient operation in tidal current velocities as low as 1.2 ms−1. This could increase the geographical areas suitable for large-scale tidal power arrays. Numerical modeling of the Deep Green was carried out in a previous study using large eddy simulations and the actuator line method. This numerical model is compared with acoustic Doppler current profiler (ADCP) measurements taken in the wake of a DG operating in a tidal flow under similar conditions. To be comparable, and since the ADCP measures current velocities using averages of beam components, the numerical model data were resampled using a virtual ADCP in the domain. The sensitivity of the wake observations to ADCP parameters such as pulse length, bin length, and orientation of the beams is studied using this virtual ADCP. After resampling with this virtual ADCP, the numerical model showed good agreement with the observations. Overall, the LES/ALM model predicted the flow features well compared to the observations, although the turbulence levels were underpredicted for an undisturbed tidal flow and overestimated in the DG wake 70 m downstream. The velocity deficit in the DG wake was weaker in the observations compared to the LES. The ALM/LES modeling of kite-borne tidal stream turbines is suitable for further studies of array optimization and wake propagation, etc.

The Iceland–Faroe warm-water flow towards the Arctic estimated from satellite altimetry and in situ observations

Abstract. The inflow of warm and saline Atlantic water to the Arctic Mediterranean (Nordic Seas and Arctic Ocean) between Iceland and the Faroes (IF inflow) is the strongest Atlantic inflow branch in terms of volume transport and is associated with a large transport of heat towards the Arctic. The IF inflow is monitored in a section east of the Iceland–Faroe Ridge (IFR) by use of sea level anomaly (SLA) data from satellite altimetry, a method that has been calibrated by in situ observations gathered over 2 decades. Monthly averaged surface velocity anomalies calculated from SLA data were strongly correlated with anomalies measured by moored acoustic Doppler current profilers (ADCPs) with consistently higher correlations when using the reprocessed SLA data released in December 2021 rather than the earlier version. In contrast to the earlier version, the reprocessed data also had the correct conversion factor between sea level slope and surface velocity required by geostrophy. Our results show that the IF inflow crosses the IFR in two separate branches. The Icelandic branch is a jet over the Icelandic slope with average surface speed exceeding 20 cm s−1, but it is narrow and shallow with an average volume transport of less than 1 Sv (106 m3 s−1). Most of the Atlantic water crosses the IFR close to its southernmost end in the Faroese branch. Between these two branches, water from the Icelandic branch turns back onto the ridge in a retroflection with a recirculation over the northernmost bank on the IFR. Combining multi-sensor in situ observations with satellite SLA data, monthly mean volume transport of the IF inflow has been determined from January 1993 to December 2021. The IF inflow is part of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC), which is expected to weaken under continued global warming. Our results show no weakening of the IF inflow. Annually averaged volume transport of Atlantic water through the monitoring section had a statistically significant (95 % confidence level) increasing trend of (0.12±0.10) Sv per decade. Combined with increasing temperature, this caused an increase of 13 % in the heat transport, relative to 0 ∘C, towards the Arctic of the IF inflow over the 29 years of monitoring. The near-bottom layer over most of the IFR is dominated by cold water of Arctic origin that may contribute to the overflow across the ridge. Our observations confirm a dynamic link between the overflow and the Atlantic water flow above. The results also provide support for a previously posed hypothesis that this link may explain the difficulties in reproducing observed transport variations in the IF inflow in numerical ocean models, with consequences for its predictability under climate change.

Estimating turbulent kinetic energy with an acoustic Doppler current profiler

A new method for estimating turbulent kinetic energy (TKE) from acoustic Doppler current profiler (ADCP) measurements is presented. Current methods of estimating TKE from ADCP measurements require assumptions regarding the flow being measured. Combining the geometric orientation of ADCP sampling beams and the relative contributions of root mean square (RMS) velocities to the total TKE results in a formula that can be written for any ADCP. Data from a direct numerical simulation (DNS) are used with a virtual ADCP to assess the success of this method, and laboratory experiments are used to test the new method in a physical setting. The proposed approach measures TKE with an average RMS error of 15.2%, which is less than that from previous methods. Error caused by the ADCP sampling in different spatial locations contributes most to overall error; commercially available ADCPs typically sample at a high enough frequency and fine enough resolution to measure the RMS velocities needed to calculate TKE. Guidelines for measuring TKE with an ADCP are proposed, and published data on rivers are used to estimate the applicability of this method in practice.

Evaluating the estuarine tidal discharge through water stage component analysis and in-situ measurement — Case study Mandovi–Zuari estuary of Goa, India

Determining tidal reach and long-term monitoring of tidal discharge are vital in an estuarine system due to their potential use in water resource management and inland navigation. The upstream river discharge contributes to the nonstationary and nonlinear features of estuarine discharge. The tidal reach of an estuary can be identified based on the tidal influence on its water stage components. In the present study, a novel approach based on the Hilbert–Huang transform (HHT) and complete ensemble empirical mode decomposition with adaptive noise (CEEMDN), is used to decompose water stages into several Intrinsic mode functions (IMF). Those IMFs with different amplitudes and periodicities represent those factors that influence the water stages in an estuary. The efficiency of the present method is analyzed with the measured water level data from the estuary of Mandovi–Zuari in Goa, India. Principal ocean lunar semidiurnal constituent M2 is found to be the major tidal constituent, which is consistent in the coastal region. Subsequently, the high-frequency discharge is computed and validated with direct discharge measured by Rio Grande Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP). Post-monsoonal discharge is computed using pre-monsoonal calibration coefficients, and a strong correlation is found between post-monsoonal measured and computed discharge. The proposed study will be helpful to estimate reliable estuarine tidal discharge with minimum operational maintenance.

Application of Acoustic Doppler Current Profile (ADCP) to Estimate Suspended Solid Concentration (SSC) During the Tidal Phase, Case Study: Donggala, Palu.

Understanding various types of kite material, known as suspended solid concentration (SSC), affects the strength of the reflected acoustic signal. SSC is a concentrate that floats in a body of water, the character of the increase in concentration is strongly influenced by the transport medium, namely ocean currents and tides. The use of the Acoustic Doppler Current Profile (ADCP) in this study was developed to estimate the SSC at each elevation change in the tidal phase. This study aims to identify the relationship between the intensity of scattering values to estimate SSC, and to compare SSC temporally in the tidal phase. ADCP measurement is implemented at Donggala, Palu Waters to collected tidal behavior and strength signal during 30 days measurement, with 8 layers profile. Data analysis by classifying the relative acoustic backscatter value. The conversion of the scattering value obtained has a range between 20 - 150 db. The classification of scattering is as follows 70-77 db, 65-69 db, and 60-64 db respectively near the bottom, middle and surface waters. The results of the linear echo intensity (db) relationship with SSC observation (10log) have a strong relationship with an accuracy of R values 0.936. The characteristics of SSC at neap tide and ebb current elevation were relatively higher, with concentration values ranging from 80 – 82 mg l-1, while other conditions were 77 – 79 mg l-1. This study concludes that the intensity relationship can estimate SSC with an error of 2.61% with average layer difference concentration 0.59 mg/l.

Eddy Tracking From In Situ and Satellite Observations

AbstractMesoscale eddies are a dominant source of spatial variability in the surface ocean and play a major role in the biological marine carbon cycle. Satellite altimetry is often used to locate and track eddies, but this approach is rarely validated against in situ observations. Here we compare measurements of a small (under 25 km radius) mode water anticyclonic eddy over the Porcupine Abyssal Plain in the northeastern Atlantic Ocean using CTD and Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP) measurements from three ships, two gliders, two profiling floats, and one Lagrangian float with those derived from sea level anomaly (SLA). In situ estimates of the eddy center were estimated from maps of the thickness of its central isopycnal layer, from ADCP velocities at a reference depth, and from the trajectory of the Lagrangian float. These were compared to three methods using altimetric SLA: one based on maximizing geostrophic rotation, one based on a constant SLA contour, and one which maximizes geostrophic velocity speed along the eddy boundary. All algorithms were used to select CTD profiles that were within the eddy. The in‐situ metrics agreed to 97%. The altimetry metrics showed only a small loss of accuracy, giving >90% agreement with the in situ results. This suggests that current satellite altimetry is adequate for understanding the spatial representation of even relatively small mesoscale eddies.

Modelling shear stress distribution in ice-covered streams

Abstract Distribution of bed shear stress is the critical factor in regulating the meandering of single-thread rivers. However, the impact of ice cover on bed shear stress is largely unknown. In this study, we develop a theoretical model of cross-stream momentum balance to examine the distribution of bed shear stresses in ice-covered meandering rivers. To validate the theoretical model, field surveys were carried out in a river reach of the Red River in Fargo, North Dakota. Data monitoring was completed using an Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler to obtain time-averaged velocity profiles. Our theoretical model indicates that an ice covering develops high-shear zones near both the inner and outer banks, which might exacerbate sediment transport and enhance bank erosion. Velocity measurements confirm the results of the proposed model and demonstrate a clear impact of meandering river banks on velocity profiles and secondary flow patterns under ice cover. Based on our results, we hypothesize that ice cover increases turbulent stresses near banks, which in turn lead to the enhancement of the bed shear stress. Our work provides new insights into the impact of ice cover on bed shear stress distribution, which could play an important role in driving sediment-transport processes and the long-term morphodynamic evolution of meandering rivers seasonally covered by ice.

Model and method to predict the turbulent kinetic energy induced by tidal currents, application to the wave-induced turbulence

A prediction model for the turbulent kinetic energy (TKE) induced by tidal-currents is proposed as a function of the barotropic velocity only, along with a robust method evaluating the different parameters involved using Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP) measurements from Alderney Race. We find that the model is able to reproduce correctly the TKE profiles with coefficients of correlation on average higher than 0.90 and normalised root-mean-square errors (NRMSE) less than 14%. Different profiles are also tested for the mean velocity, no satisfactory prediction model is found but we are able to have decent estimates of the velocity shear and friction velocity. Two applications are then carried out. First the turbulent budget terms are estimated and discussed. We identify the turbulent production and dissipation of TKE as the most important mechanisms, then we discuss the validity of several theoretical results derived for isotropic turbulence for this application. A strong departure for the estimation of the turbulent dissipation is notably found and explained by the turbulent anisotropy. At last the prediction model for the TKE is used to infer the wave-induced TKE. We show the importance of removing the tidal component, waves can have a strong influence down to mid-depth.

Analysis of the riverbed backscattered signal registered by ADCPs in different bedload transport conditions – field application

Acoustic Doppler current profilers (ADCP) were deployed to investigate the backscattering (BS) signal in three navigable rivers, in different bedload transport conditions. This study aims to demonstrate that the BS strength, as an additional variable to the apparent bedload velocity, improves the characterization of the bedload transport using ADCPs. The M9 –3 MHz and the vertical beam M9 – 0.5 MHz showed decline of the BS strength as the bedload intensity increased, whereas the RDI –1.2 MHz was relatively insensitive. The correlation between the median grain size and the BS strength for the 0.5 MHz was linear, for the 3 MHz the BS strength was attenuated in the active layer, and for 1.2 MHz, it revealed a parabolic distribution. Moreover, the analyses of the ADCP measured variables, using wavelet transformations and unsupervised machine learning, highlighted the importance of the spatial and temporal variance and transient nature of the bedload transport.