Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler Research Articles

A simplified method for estimating the alpha coefficient in surface velocity based river discharge measurements

Remote sensing techniques for river monitoring facilitate faster measurement campaigns compared to traditional methods, reduce risks to personnel and instruments, and allow measurements under critical flow conditions. An alpha coefficient (α) is commonly employed to convert surface velocities, obtained by contactless techniques, into depth-averaged velocities, which are used for the application of the velocity-area method for assessing discharge. Some optical-based software programs use a constant α value, based on a theoretical “standard”. However, analyses of empirical vertical velocity profiles in real cases reveal that α can significantly deviate from this standard due to various factors (roughness, turbulence, etc.).This study analyzes several ADCP (Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler)-based measurements in Sicily, Italy, to explore factors influencing flow velocity distribution and potential errors from using the standard α for discharge estimation via surface velocity-based methods. The results confirmed substantial variability in α, which is functionally related to some geometric factors characterizing the cross-section shape and the specific vertical where the velocity profile is computed. The generated dataset of empirical α values is also used to implement an Artificial Neural Network (ANN), offering a straightforward tool suitable for non-contact techniques. The ANN predicts α at any vertical of a measurement transect as a function of variables however necessary for discharge assessment by non-intrusive methods, leading to depth-averaged velocity estimates from surface velocities that are more accurate than those derived from conventional approaches, as demonstrated by four test cases.

A Kinematic Approach for Rip Current Identification from ADCP Observation Data at Haeundae Beach, Korea

In May 2023, direct observations of rip currents were conducted at Haeundae Beach, Korea, over a two-day period at six different stations using upward-facing Acoustic Doppler Current Profilers (ADCPs). The depth-averaged cross-shore velocity data were low-pass filtered with a 30-s cutoff period to eliminate wave-related motions. By applying 15-min boxcar averages, correlation analyses were performed to examine the relationship between three types of flow (cross-shore, onshore, and offshore) and three environmental factors (tide, wave, and wind). The analysis revealed that only one (R2-3) of the six stations had a high likelihood of rip current occurrence. Rip currents were defined as regions of offshore flow within the low-pass filtered time series of cross-shore velocities. For each identified rip current, three key kinematic features—maximum speed, duration, and distance—were estimated. Using specific thresholds for these features, hazardous rip currents were determined. Station R2-3 was the only station where hazardous rip currents were observed, which is consistent with the findings of the correlation analysis. Additionally, swells with a 15-s period were detected exclusively at R2-3 during the period of the hazardous rip currents, suggesting their significant role in the development of the observed rip currents. Furthermore, both Rip Index from the Rip Current Monitoring and Warning System and the CCTV Score from the Rip Current Checklist exceeded threshold values during this period, reinforcing the reliability of the method used. The potential influence of bound infragravity waves on the duration and variability of these rip currents was discussed. The rip currents observed at Haeundae Beach could be categorized as the "focused" type.

Flow characterization and turbulence in the eastern section of the Strait of Magellan, Southern Chile

The Strait of Magellan connects the Pacific and Atlantic oceans in South America’s southern region, and it has been recognized for centuries as an important transoceanic navigation route as well as a unique marine environment with a rich ecological diversity. Evaluations of the impact of human activities in the channel and multiple potential future developments require a better understanding of the physical environment to design sustainable strategies aimed at preserving these characteristics. In this investigation, we study the flow near the Atlantic inlet of the Strait where the dynamics is characterized by the interactions of the tide propagation within two narrows, which are the predominant features of the channel morphology. Tides amplified by the Patagonian shelf generate strong currents through these narrows and control the exchange between the Atlantic and central regions of the Strait. We employ bottom-mounted and vessel-mounted Acoustic Doppler Current Profilers (ADCPs) with tide gauges to analyze the mean flow, tidal propagation, and turbulence, complementing the data with previous available measurements. The analysis reveals residual flows directed toward ebb flow at the channel center and flood near the edges, showing a significant spring-neap variation. Turbulence statistics in the second narrows exhibit a significant variability between ebb and flood, with a balance between production and dissipation observed only during ebb phases.

Bayesian modeling and mechanical simulations for fragility curve estimation of the mooring system of marine hydrokinetic devices

This work uses Bayesian modeling and mechanical model simulations through the Ansys-AQWA software to construct fragility curve estimates for marine hydrokinetic devices, more specifically, their mooring system. The fragility curves proposed here associate wind speed levels with the risk of damage to the equipment and could be used to better understand the susceptibility of these devices to damage from hurricanes. Our proposed modeling framework uses acoustic Doppler current profiler measurements from a site located off the North Carolina coast and the RM4 conversion device from the Sandia National Laboratory. By evaluating different scenarios with and without dynamic tension in mooring lines due to changes in current velocities caused by extreme wind speeds, our results indicate that the risks of damage may be significant depending not only on the average current velocity but also on the velocity variation.

Enhancing River Channel Dimension Estimation: A Machine Learning Approach Leveraging the National Water Model, Hydrographic Networks, and Landscape Characteristics

AbstractKnowledge of bankfull hydraulic geometry represents an essential requirement for various applications, including accurate flood prediction, hydrological routing, river behavior analysis, river management and engineering practices, water resource management, and beyond. Our work builds upon an extensive body of literature about estimating bankfull top‐width and depth at ungauged locations to enhance the understanding of observable factors that affect these parameters. Using more than 200,000 USGS Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP) records, we developed a method employing machine learning (ML) using discharge estimates and landscape characteristics from sources, including the National Water Model (NWM), the National Hydrologic Geospatial Fabric network (NHGF), the EPA stream characteristic data set (StreamCat), and an array of satellite and reanalysis data products. Our method achieved log‐transformed R2 = 0.8 predicting bankfull depth (R2 = 0.77 for in‐channel conditions) and R2 = 0.76 predicting bankfull top‐width (R2 = 0.66 for in‐channel conditions) in the testing data set. The depth and width predictions showed lowest skill in mountainous and plateau regions. Our analysis demonstrates the benefit of data‐driven modeling in contrast to other global scaling‐based or regional statistical methods. In summary, our study illustrates how top‐width and depth can be better predicted using ML, reanalysis streamflow simulations, hydrographic networks, and summarized geospatial data.

An ADCP Attitude Dynamic Errors Correction Method Based on Angular Velocity Tensor and Radius Vector Estimation

An acoustic Doppler current profiler (ADCP) installed on a platform produces rotational tangential velocity as a result of variations in the platform’s attitude, with both the tangential velocity and radial orientation varying between each pulse’s transmission and reception by the transducer. These factors introduce errors into the measurements of vessel velocity and flow velocity. In this study, we address the errors induced by dynamic factors related to variations in attitude and propose an ADCP attitude dynamic error correction method based on angular velocity tensor and radius vector estimation. This method utilizes a low-sampling-rate inclinometer and compass data and estimates the angular velocity tensor based on a physical model of vessel motion combined with nonlinear least-squares estimation. The angular velocity tensor is then used to estimate the transducers’ radius vectors. Finally, the radius vectors are employed to correct the instantaneous tangential velocity within the measured velocities of the vessel and flow. To verify the effectiveness of the proposed method, field tests were conducted in a water pool. The results demonstrate that the proposed method surpasses the attitude static correction approach. In comparison with the ASC method, the average relative error in vessel velocity during free-swaying movement decreased by 20.94%, while the relative standard deviation of the error was reduced by 17.38%.

Turbidity estimation from an acoustic backscatter signal in a tropical coral reef system

This study investigated the estimation of Nephelometric Turbidity Units (NTU) from backscatter signals in a tropical coral reef system using a 1200-kHz towed Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP). In order to perform the estimation, simultaneous acoustic backscatter and turbidity data were collected near the surface (above the pycnocline). Simultaneously, water samples at the same depths were analyzed to determine sediment composition. The results showed that a second-degree polynomial model provided the best correlation (r = 0.69) between backscatter signals and turbidity measurements, highlighting the nonlinear relationship between acoustic signals and turbidity values obtained from optical devices. The reef's bathymetry significantly influenced the seawater turbidity, revealing the importance of physical configuration and hydrodynamic conditions in sediment distribution. From the sediment composition, it was determined that 89% of the total suspended solids are terrigenous sediments. This integrated methodological approach provides a detailed understanding of sediment dynamics, essential for the conservation and sustainable management of coral reefs around the word in a noninvasive way.

Characteristic Analysis of Vertical Tidal Profile Parameters at Tidal Current Energy Site

Many mathematical models have been proposed to estimate vertical tidal current profiles. However, as previous studies have shown that tidal current energy sites have different characteristics in their vertical tidal current profiles, it is necessary to estimate the profiles from field-measured data for practical purposes. In this study, we measured layered tidal currents over two months using an acoustic Doppler current profiler (ADCP) to analyze the characteristics of vertical tidal current profiles at the Jangjuk Strait, a candidate site for tidal current energy. As a result, the power law parameter α and bed roughness β were estimated as 4.51–12.41 and 0.38–0.42, respectively. Additionally, the maximum roughness length representing seabed roughness in the logarithmic profile was estimated as 0.221 m, and the estimated friction velocity was 0.038–0.194 m/s. Furthermore, a high correlation was observed between the depth-averaged tidal current velocity and friction velocities at all sites during flood and ebb tide conditions. A high correlation was also found between the bed roughness, roughness length, and power law exponent at relatively deeper sites. Tidal current energy sites display distinct characteristics compared to other sea areas. Therefore, it is essential to account for field conditions when conducting numerical modeling and design.

River suspended-sand flux computation with uncertainty estimation using water samples and high-resolution ADCP measurements

Abstract. Measuring suspended-sand fluxes in rivers remains a scientific challenge due to their high spatial and temporal variability. To capture the vertical and lateral gradients of concentration in the cross-section, measurements with point samples are performed. However, the uncertainty related to these measurements is rarely evaluated, as few studies of the major sources of error exist. Therefore, the aim of this study is to develop a method to determine the cross-sectional sand flux and estimate its uncertainty. This SDC (for sand discharge computing) method combines suspended-sand concentrations from point samples with ADCP (acoustic Doppler current profiler) high-resolution depth and velocity measurements. The MAP (for multitransect averaged profile) method allows obtaining an average of several ADCP transects on a regular grid, including the unmeasured areas. The suspended-sand concentrations are integrated vertically by fitting a theoretical exponential suspended-sand profile to the data using Bayesian modeling. The lateral integration is based on the water depth as a proxy for the local bed shear stress to evaluate the bed concentration and sediment diffusion along the river cross-section. The estimation of uncertainty combines ISO standards and semi-empirical methods with a Bayesian approach to estimate the uncertainty due to the vertical integration. The new method is applied to data collected in four rivers under various hydro-sedimentary conditions: the Colorado, Rhône, Isère, and Amazon rivers, with computed flux uncertainties ranging between 18 % and 32 %. The relative difference between the suspended-sand flux in 21 cases calculated with the proposed SDC method compared to the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 4363 standard method ranges between −40 % and +23 %. This method that comes with a flexible, open-source code is the first to propose an applicable uncertainty estimation that could be adapted to other flux computation methods.

Two Types of Intraseasonal Variability With a Vertical Difference in the Currents East of Luzon Island and Their Sources

AbstractIntraseasonal variabilities (ISVs) of the western boundary currents (WBCs) east of Luzon Island were explored using acoustic Doppler current profiler (ADCP) measurements from three moorings at 18°N during 2018–2020. Besides the traditionally known surface‐intensified ISV, subsurface‐intensified ISV with a typical period of approximately 60 days was also detected in the currents, and the strongest signal appeared between 400 and 800 m. Further analysis indicates that they are highly associated with subsurface eddies. Based on their lifespan, subsurface eddies are classified into two categories: short‐lived and medium‐to long‐lived eddies. The short‐lived eddies are primarily generated locally near the eastern coast of Luzon Island, whereas the medium‐to long‐lived eddies are mainly generated away from the western boundary, in the region west of 135°E. Additional energy diagnosis suggests that baroclinic instability induced by the velocity shear of the North Equatorial Current (NEC)/subtropical countercurrent (STCC) system dominates the generation of medium‐to long‐lived subsurface eddies in the interior ocean, while barotropic instability and baroclinic instability play a comparable role in the generation of short‐lived eddies near the eastern coast of Luzon Island.

Observations of Elevated Mixing and Periodic Structures Within Diurnal Warm Layers

AbstractSurface drifters (SWIFTs) equipped with down‐looking high‐resolution acoustic doppler current profilers (ADCPs) were used to estimate the turbulent kinetic energy (TKE) dissipation rate within highly stratified diurnal warm layers (DWLs) in the Southern California Bight. Over a 10‐day period, five instances of DWLs were observed with strong surface temperature anomalies up to 3°C and velocity anomalies up to 0.3 m . Profiles of in the upper 5 m suggest turbulence is strongly modulated by the DWL stratification. Burst‐averaged (8.5 min) is stronger than predicted by law‐of‐the‐wall boundary layer scaling within the DWLs and suppressed below. Predictions for within the DWLs are improved by a shear‐production scaling using observed shear and linearly decaying turbulent stress. However, is still under‐predicted. Examination of the un‐averaged acoustic backscatter data suggests elevated is related to the presence of turbulent structures in the DWLs which span the layer height and strongly modulate TKE. Evolution in the bulk Richardson number each day suggests the DWLs become unstable to layer‐scale overturning and entrainment each afternoon, thus the turbulent structures may result from shear‐driven instability. This interpretation is supported by a conditional average of the data during a burst characterized by strongly periodic structures. The structures resemble high‐frequency internal waves with strong asymmetry in the along‐flow direction (steepening) which suggests they are unstable. Coincident asymmetric patterns in upwelling/downwelling and corresponding regions of strong vertical convergence/divergence suggest that both vertical transport and local TKE generation are plausible sources of elevated in the DWLs.

Beach and Backward Bragg Sea‐Swell Wave Reflection Across Rocky and Sandy Shores

AbstractAn observational study comparing beach reflection characteristics for sea‐swell waves along six rocky and three sandy shores, spanning from Monterey to Santa Cruz, CA, shed light on the previously unknown wave reflection along rocky shores. Wave reflection is derived from directional spectra acquired via several surface GPS‐based wave buoys. Owing to the Lagrangian nature of the buoy, they were validated against Eulerian beam velocities from a bottom‐mounted acoustic Doppler current profiler, providing a spatial array for more degrees of freedom in resolving wave direction and now including adjustment for instrument tilt. Reflection varies across shoreline types: sandy shores (20%), rough, rocky shores (10%), rocky shores with cliffs (15%), and rocky platforms with cliffs (30%). Contrary to expectations, rocky shores exhibit minimal reflection. Existing reflection estimators developed for sandy shores are found inadequate for rocky shores , necessitating a new estimator considering beach slope, wave steepness, and shoreline rugosity . Beach reflection is limited by the dissipation of incident waves due to bottom friction and depth‐limited wave breaking as well as by the reduction in reflected waves caused by wave trapping. Observed reflection increased offshore on all beaches attributed to sea‐swell waves' resonant interaction with the rough rocky bottom, causing backward Bragg scattering. The Bragg scattering was less on larger‐sloped bottoms, attributed to larger slopes hindering effective wave‐bottom interactions.

Unsteady Secondary Flow Structure at a Large River Confluence

AbstractRiver confluences, which are characterized by complex hydrodynamics, are key nodes for flood control and environmental protection. Two field surveys were carried out at the confluence of the Yangtze River and Poyang Lake to investigate the transient character of flow structures, which are often assumed steady. Repeat‐transect acoustic Doppler current profile measurements were processed and analyzed, adopting a new method to separate mean flow from turbulence and measurement error based on physics‐informed generalized Tikhonov regularization. The two field surveys were characterized by two distinct mixing interface modes: A so‐called Kelvin–Helmholtz (KH) mode, and a wake mode. In KH mode, large‐scale flow fluctuations were observed. These flow fluctuations exert a substantial influence on the alternation of secondary flows by changing the water surface pressure gradient, affecting the intensity of secondary flows rather than their spatial structure. We infer that temperature‐induced stratification is the main cause of this. In the wake mode, multiple vortices in the wake region at the confluence apex also produced flow fluctuations, directly related to the primary velocity gradient. We argue that even for constant incoming flows, secondary flow at river confluences can exhibit channel‐scale unsteadiness related to migration of the turbulent mixing interface. Our findings highlight the crucial role of density effects in regulating secondary flow unsteadiness, which is essential for understanding contaminant and sediment dispersal in river systems.

Real-Time and Long-Term Monitoring of Coastal Water Turbidity Using an Ocean Buoy Equipped with an ADCP.

In this study, an acoustic Doppler current profiler (ADCP) operating at 600 kHz was installed on an ocean data buoy in the Qigu waters, Taiwan, to gather real-time sound echo intensity data. These data were then correlated with turbidity measurements obtained by a turbidimeter mounted on the buoy's mooring line at a water depth of 13 m. The data buoy operated from 6 June to 16 August 2017. During this period, turbidity measurements were recorded from 6 to 21 June 2017. This study established a calibration between the sound echo intensity measured by the ADCP and the turbidity measured using the turbidimeter; a strong linear correlation was discovered between these two variables. This correlation enabled the conversion of echo intensity data into a continuous time series of turbidity measurements, facilitating real-time and long-term monitoring of coastal water turbidity through the deployment of a buoy equipped with an ADCP. The relationships between turbidity and environmental factors such as rainfall, tides, current speeds, and wave activity over an extended period were then investigated. The results revealed that stronger tides and currents in the Qigu waters often lead to higher turbidity, suggesting that these two factors are the primary driving forces for sediment transport in the Qigu waters. Additionally, sampling of water in the Qigu area revealed sediment particles of size ranging from 2 to 120 μm.

Characterisation of turbulence at sites with coexisting waves and currents: An analysis by empirical mode decomposition

This paper presents a novel side information assisted Empirical Mode Decomposition (EMD) method for separating wave orbital velocity from a combined wave-tidal current velocity data, measured by three different Acoustic Doppler Current Profilers (ADCPs) deployed in the Pentland Firth, Orkney Waters, UK. The effectiveness of this technique is confirmed through two methods: (1) the spectra of the wave-removed velocity align with the Kolmogorov −5/3 power law, and (2) the extracted wave orbital velocities were used to derive significant wave heights, which were validated against wave heights measured by the same ADCPs and through numerical modelling carried out with a coupled wave-current tool (TOMAWAC-TELEMAC 3D).The decomposed data was further used to calculate three-dimensional turbulence intensities (TI) for combined wave-current, wave-only, and current-only conditions, across different flow speeds and wave heights. The results demonstrate the robustness of the decomposition method in various scenarios and quantify the individual TI contributions from waves, currents, and their combined effects. This work provides valuable insights into the dynamics of areas where waves and currents coexist.

Investigations-based results on the hydrographic conditions with special reference to the tourist bathing areas of the protected Romanian littoral

The aim of the present work is related to the new hydrographic conditions within newly developed coastal areas through coastal protection measures extension. The study also seeks to assess the impact on the touristic bathing areas and its safety. The new bathymetry, induced by the sediment size, together with currents propagation into the bathing areas adjacent to the newly arranged beach areas were subject of Conductivity Temperature and depth profiler (CTD) and Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP) measurements in relation to the summer waves regime and sea level variations. Several experiments habitually conducted during the summer period were considered; the experiments are related to the marine hazards associated to the swimming areas, such as seasonal storm-inducing currents and the propagation of the rip currents in the nearshore, but also to the specific marine currents setups around beach protection groins and longitudinal breakwater, the influence of vertical water movements, including up-welling and specific intensifications in the periods with complex stormy waves.

HALOBATES: An autonomous surface vehicle for high-resolution mapping of the sea-surface microlayer and near-surface layer on essential climate variables

Abstract Essential climate variables (ECVs) are physical, chemical, or biological parameters supporting the characterization of the climate system. The oceanic ECVs temperature and salinity have been defined for the sea surface (upper 1 mm) and bulk water (upper 2 meters). Direct observation and sampling of the sea surface from ships and buoys is limited due to the potential loss of integrity of the sea surface and contamination by the research platform. The design, development, and operation of a research vehicle with autonomous capabilities based on commercially available components are described in this study. The autonomous operation and fully automated sampling enable high-resolution mapping of the sea surface microlayer (SML), i.e., the upper < 1mm layer, and near-surface layer (< 1.2 m). Sampling the SML is based on a rotating glass disk sampler. The autonomous surface vehicle HALOBATES has been equipped with multiple conductivity, temperature, and depth sensors (CTDs) in a flow-through system to measure both sea surface and bulk temperature and salinity. The performance of the autopilot under various scenarios is demonstrated. Typical anomalies of ECVs within the SML and near-surface layer are evident and forced by both atmospheric and oceanic processes. Data analyses reveal HALOBATES' ability to resolve thermohaline structure on different spatial and temporal scales, for example, small-scale freshwater lenses and thermohaline changes across oceanic fronts. The integration of an Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler supports the interpretation of thermohaline structures. HALOBATES is a platform with cutting-edge technology for understanding climate-related processes between the ocean and atmosphere and providing high-resolution sea surface data for validating satellite products of ECVs.

High-resolution observations of the ocean upper layer south of Cape St. Vincent, the western northern margin of the Gulf of Cádiz

Abstract. This article presents an Eulerian physical and biogeochemical dataset from the Iberian Margin Cape St. Vincent Ocean observatory (IbMa-CSV), a facility of the European Multidisciplinary Seafloor and water column Observatory European Research Infrastructure Consortium (EMSO-ERIC), located 10 nautical miles south of Cape St. Vincent (Portugal), the southwest tip of the Iberian Peninsula and western limit of the northern margin of the Gulf of Cádiz (GoC). The observatory was installed on the shelf break, and the data time series spans 4 months for most of the variables. The upper 150 m were sampled intensively with a wave-powered vertical profiler at an average rate of 4.5 profiles per hour recording at 2 Hz when ascending at an approximate velocity of 0.2 m s−1 and 10 Hz when descending at a variable velocity. The vertical resolution was always higher than 0.2 m. Measured channels were conductivity, temperature, pressure, chlorophyll a, dissolved O2 concentration, and turbidity. Derived channels are sea pressure, depth, salinity, speed of sound, specific conductivity, dissolved O2 saturation, density anomaly, spiciness, and Brunt–Väisälä frequency. The acquired dataset includes the flow velocity and direction along the water column, taken from an upward-looking 300 kHz acoustic Doppler current profiler (ADCP) recorded every hour for 3 m depth bins extending the same depth range of the vertical profiler. A standard quality-control scheme was applied to the dataset. The dataset is preserved for multiple use and is accessible in the Sea Open Scientific Data Publication (SEANOE) repository via the following address: https://doi.org/10.17882/94769 (Rautenbach et al., 2022).

Error Analysis and Correction of ADCP Attitude Dynamics under Platform Swing Conditions

The Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP) on a platform generates rotational linear velocity due to dynamic factors in attitude changes, leading to measurement errors in vessel and water flow velocities. This study derives and analyzes these errors, focusing on factors such as emission angle, transducer position, water depth, and measured depth, while also accounting for the variation in linear velocity and radial direction during each transmit–receive pulse cycle in the simulations. A method is proposed that introduces the concept of an equivalent radial radius to correct vessel and flow velocities, specifically designed for the common scenario where the ADCP is installed on the central longitudinal section of a vessel undergoing free roll motion. This method is suited for shallow water conditions without waves, with measurements taken vertically downward. It uses least squares fitting with an exponentially decaying sinusoidal model to process low-sampling-rate inclinometer data from the ADCP. This approach requires only the processing of measured data based on existing ADCP hardware, without the need for additional equipment. Field tests in a pool demonstrate that the proposed method significantly reduces vessel velocity errors, outperforming the traditional attitude static correction method.

A “natural sand plant” at the shelf edge in the low-energy Gulf of Lions, western Mediterranean Sea

Thick sand deposits at the edge of continental shelves, sometimes covered with large bedforms, are generally considered as relict features inherited from periods of low sea level, but alternative interpretations are possible, even in zones where modern oceanic processes are moderate. Detailed investigations in the western Gulf of Lions (western Mediterranean Sea) reveal the presence of remains of Marine Isotope Stage 4 (MIS 4) and MIS 2 shelf-edge deltas at the head of canyons. The sands were then “cannibalized” by strong rising sea-level currents, forming a 20-km-long, strike-oriented sand body covered by dunes. Presently, the migration of dunes is maintained by strong storm-driven currents. The seasonal reversal of circulation is at the origin of inversion of dune morphology, thus the sand body mimics a tidal sand bank with clockwise circulation of bedforms. In the long term, dunes migrate southward with a negative angle of climb, eroding into the underlying shelf-edge deltas. Acoustic Doppler current profiles and numerical simulations indicate that the sediment is sorted, once in suspension, and is flushed to the deep sea while sand bedload contributes to bedform migration. This relative enrichment of sand without external supply is referred to as a “natural sand plant,” by analogy with industrial sand plants where sand is washed and sieved. It forms a discontinuous sand belt, 5−20 m thick, more than 110 km along-strike, connecting multiple shelf-edge deltas. The geological importance of recognizing this recycling mechanism is indicated by the preservation of similarly large buried dunes formed during the deglaciation leading to interglacial MIS 7 at ca. 240 ka (Termination III).