Observations of Currents in a Tidally Modulated Inlet

Abstract

Observations of currents were obtained over a 4 week period at the tidally modulated inlet leading to Hampton/Seabrook Harbor in southeastern New Hampshire in the Fall of 2011. The temporal variation and vertical structure of the currents were observed with 600 khz and 1200 khz RDI Acoustic Doppler Current Profilers (ADCP) deployed on low-profile bottom tripods in 6 and 12 m water depths near the entrance to the inlet, and with a Nortek Aquadopp ADCP mounted on a jetted pipe in 3 m depth on the flank of the inlet channel. Across-inlet current profiles were obtained at various tidal stages with a 1200 khz RDI vessel-mounted ADCP onboard the personal watercraft (the Coastal Bathymetry Survey System) that transited the inlet multiple times at various spatial locations. Flows within the inlet were dominated by semidiurnal tides 2.5 - 4 m in elevation, with velocities exceeding 3 m/s. Horizontal and vertical variations in the flow structure will be discussed and compared to the spatial and temporal variation in water depth and bedform features, observed every 2-3 days with a high-resolution multibeam sonar. (Abstract ID 12491)

Department

Center for Coastal and Ocean Mapping

Publication Date

2-2012

Journal Title

Ocean Sciences Meeting

Conference Date

Feb 20 - Feb 24, 2012

Publisher Place

Salt Lake City, UT, USA

Publisher

TOS/AGU/ASLO

Document Type

Conference Proceeding

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