Oceanographic Survey
Southampton oceanographic campaign
ABP Southampton
Oceanographic Survey
To further develop a hydrodynamic numerical model of Southampton Water, ABPmer was contracted to design, plan and conduct a comprehensive oceanographic data collection campaign.
Hydrodynamic measurement instruments were used to obtain datasets that could be used by ABPmer’s inhouse modelling specialists to calibrate a model of the Solent and Southampton Water.
As part of the data collection programme, three static instrument packages were deployed at strategic locations. Instruments installed on seabed frames included Nortek AWAC wave and current monitoring sensors, CTD salinity and temperature sensors, and turbidity sensors for observing suspended sediment. Each instrument package was deployed for a 45-day period, covering a full spring-neap tidal cycle.
Additional hydrodynamic data was acquired using a vessel-mounted ADCP current monitoring instrument. The RDI Workhorse ADCP was installed on a pole-mount on the Southampton harbour launch, Sentinel. Current data was then acquired across four transects, at hourly intervals over a 13-hour period on both a Spring and Neap tide.
During the eight transect survey days, temperature, salinity and turbidity profiles were acquired in the centre channel at two-hourly intervals.
Water samples were taken simultaneously with the profiles, later analysed in the ABPmer laboratory for Total Suspended Sediment to calibrate the turbidity sensor observations.
ABPmer's oceanographers deliver a comprehensive understanding of physical processes for marine projects and developments through the collection and processing of current flow, wave and water quality characteristics. Learn more about our oceanographic survey capability.
