How can we measure Scarborough's coastal currents?

1. Where is Scarborough?

Scarborough, situated on the coast of North Yorkshire in England, is a popular seaside resort town. It is surrounded by the North Sea to the east and the picturesque Yorkshire Wolds to the west and has an unspoiled mix of seaside charm and nature. The coast of the seaside town is for a few miles with a combination of sandy beaches, rocky outcrops, and secluded coves.

The North Sea, an Atlantic Ocean marginal sea, makes a major contribution to the coastal environment of Scarborough. It features strong tidal currents and high marine diversity. Filey Bay, a large bay along the coast, is an environment that is sheltered by many fish species and seabirds.

Scarborough has a history of more than 3,600 years. It was a fishing village, but became a large spa town in the Georgian period. The history of the town can be observed in the well-preserved Victorian and Edwardian buildings. Scarborough is a thriving tourist resort, with tourists visiting from all over the UK and overseas. Tourism, fishing, and a small manufacturing industry power the economy of the town.

2. Where are the coastal currents in the vicinity of Scarborough?

The Scarborough coastal currents are controlled by a multifactorial complex interaction. The North Sea tides dominate. The North Sea tides have a semi-diurnal tidal regime, with two high and two low waters daily. The gravitational attraction of the sun and moon produces large water-level changes that produce very strong tidal currents. At spring tides, stronger gravitational attractions produce very strong currents with velocities of several knots.

The regional prevailing winds, typically southwest, also play a significant part. They can push the surface waters of potential energy to relocate them and affect the speed and direction of the coastal currents. North Sea Current and total circulation in the North Sea also contribute to the hydrodynamics in the area. Ocean eddies generated by the interaction between different masses of water are responsible for the complexity of coastal currents offshore of the Scarborough coast.

The coastal shape and seabed bathymetry also play a significant role in shaping the coastal currents. Rocky outcrops, sandbars, and channels may channel or disrupt the flow of the currents. The underwater topography off Scarborough, with its varying depths and features, is responsible for the development of complex flow patterns.

3. How to observe the coastal water flow of Scarborough?

Surface Drifting Buoy Method

Surface drifting buoy is one of the older approaches applied to study the movement of coastal waters. Researchers release drifting buoys containing tracking mechanisms in the sea. By analyzing how the buoys moved for some period, they are able to set the direction and speed of surface currents. There is no single perfect method to accomplish this without using surface drifting buoy. It only provides information for the surface layer of the water column, and buoys are highly susceptible to wind interference. The buoys may be pushed by the wind to move in a direction that is not associated with the actual movement of the underlying currents.

Moored Ship Method

The moored ship method involves using a moored ship as a platform for measuring currents. The instruments are dropped from the vessel to monitor the water current at various levels. Even though this method may provide precise detailed vertical profiles of the currents, it is associated with several disadvantages. Spatial coverage is limited to the area around the moored vessel, and the presence of the vessel will affect the natural flow of the water and thereby corrupt the measurements. Additionally, having a ship docked for an extended period of time is logistically troublesome and costly.

Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP) Method

ADCP has emerged as a more advanced and efficient technique for measuring coastal currents. ADCPs can measure water currents over a broad vertical extent and can produce high-resolution information on the velocity structure of the water column. ADCPs can be installed on a range of platforms, including ships, buoys, and the seafloor. Ship - mounted ADCPs can collect data continuously as the ship moves along, surveying a large area in a relatively short period of time. Bottom - mounted ADCPs can be used to collect long - term, fixed - point measurements that allow scientists to look at long - term trends in the coastal currents.

4. How do Doppler principle ADCPs work?

ADCPs operate on the Doppler principle. ADCPs emit sound pulses into water. The acoustic pulses bounce back off suspended particles such as sediment, plankton, or bubbles in water. On flowing water, the frequency of the reflected sound gets altered. After calculating the difference in this frequency, ADCPs are able to determine the speed of water as measured relative to the instrument itself.

The majority of ADCPs include more than one transducer beam, usually four or more, directed in different directions. This multi-beam setup makes it possible to compute the three-dimensional velocity of the water. By utilizing the combined signals from the beams, the ADCP can get an overall picture of the current velocity at different depths in the water column. The data collected by the ADCP can either be processed in real-time or stored for later analysis, and it provides valuable information on the dynamics of the coastal currents.

5. What's needed for high - quality measurement of Scarborough coastal currents?

For correct measurement of the coastal currents in Scarborough, the measuring equipment should possess the following necessary traits. The equipment should be made of strong materials, its dimensions should be small, it should be lightweight, power usage should be low, and it should be cheap. These allow the use of a high number of equipment to provide a wide range of spatial coverage.

The most highly advised ADCPs are those with titanium alloy casings. Titanium alloy offers excellent corrosion resistance, a necessity for long - term exposure in the harsh marine environment. It can withstand the corrosive effect of saltwater, preventing damage to the ADCP's internal parts. Titanium alloy is also strong and light, giving the instrument durability and mobility. This set of characteristics allows for the taking of accurate and long - term measurements of coastal currents off Scarborough.

6. Choice of proper equipment for measuring current?

According to Application

Choice of ADCP relies on application. If measurement is ship-borne, then ship-mounted ADCPs are most appropriate. They are able to provide real-time data as the ship moves over the water, observing a large area in relatively a short duration. For long - term fixed - point observation, bottom - mounted ADCPs are ideal. They provide continuous data over a long period, and researchers can study long - term trends in the coastal currents. Floating ADCPs are suitable for observing the transport of masses of water over huge geographical areas, providing valuable information about large - scale circulation patterns.

The ADCP frequency should also be considered with respect to water depth. Below 70m water depth, 600kHz ADCPs are appropriate. They can provide high-resolution measurements in shallow water conditions. Up to a water depth of 110m, utilize 300kHz ADCPs. For water with deeper depth up to 1000m, 75kHz ADCPs are preferable.

There are various popular ADCP brands available in the market, including Teledyne RDI, Nortek, and Sontek. For people who want affordable options, the ADCP supplier China Sonar'sPandaADCP is really worth recommending. It is made of pure titanium alloy and provides great performance without costing a fortune. It is perfect for users who want to save money while still needing good ADCPs for measuring coastal currents. Additional information regarding their business activities is accessible on their website: https://china-sonar.com/.

Here is a table with some well known ADCP instrument brands and models.