Experimental Validation of Float Array Tidal Current Measurements in Agate Pass, Washington
Abstract
Tidal currents, particularly in narrow channels, can be challenging to characterize due to high current speeds (>1 m s−1), strong spatial gradients, and relatively short synoptic windows. To assess tidal currents in Agate Pass, Washington, we cross evaluated data products from an array of acoustically tracked underwater floats and from acoustic Doppler current profilers (ADCPs) in both station-keeping and drifting modes. While increasingly used in basin-scale science, underwater floats have seen limited use in coastal environments. This study presents the first application of a float array toward small-scale (μFloat, designed specifically for sampling in dynamic coastal waters. We show that a float array (20 floats) can provide data with similar quality to ADCPs, with measurements of horizontal velocity differing by less than 10% of nominal velocity, except during periods of low flow (0.1 m s−1). Additionally, floats provided measurements of the three-dimensional temperature field, demonstrating their unique ability to simultaneously resolve in situ properties that cannot be remotely observed.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Pub Defense Publication
- Publication Date
- Apr 01, 2023
- Source ID
- 10.1175/jtech-d-22-0034.1
Entities
People
- Brian Polagye
- Jim Thomson
- Nate Clemett
- Trevor Harrison
Organizations
- National Science Foundation
- Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command
- Office of Naval Research
- University of Washington