2008, ABP marine environmental research, Westermost Rough Offshore Wind Farm, Hydrographical Site investigations

Description

A hydrographical site investigation was conducted at the site of Westermost Rough Offshore Wind Farm by ABPmer during 2008. This survey was conducted once it was identified that a gap existed in the metocean (wave and tidal conditions) data relevant to the proposed site. This project details the field campaign designed to address this gap. A Nortek AWAC device mounted 0.7m above the sea bed was deployed central to the proposed wind farm site, in approximately 25m of water depth. The survey was designed for a minimum duration of 28 days, subject to the capture of sufficient wave events and weather conditions at the proposed retrieval date. The instruments recorded data between 12.00 GMT 13/02/2008 and 12.30 GMT 15/03/2008. The AWAC records tidal heights, current profiles (speed; direction) and directional wave data for this deployment. A dedicated turbidity probe was also deployed alongside the AWAC unit using optical backscatter as a proxy to provide an indication of the concentration of suspended particulate matter in the lower water column.