Wave Dissipation and Bedform Evolution

During the ONR-sponsored Shoaling Waves Experiment , a three month timeseries observation of bottom boundary layer and bed morphology were made at 12m depth offshore from Duck, NC. Continuous measurments were made of waves and mean currents in the upper water column, while sub-cm resoltuion profiles of the velocity structure above the bed were made with a unique doppler profiler developed within my research group. A scanned altimeter mapped a 1.5m by 1.5m area spanning the velocity profiles every 10 minutes, to determine the bed response to wave forcing.

These measurments are being continued in Monterey Bay from the MISO cabled node, also at 12m depth, deployed in August 1999. This site has significantly coarser sand and a different wave climate to contrast with the Duck site. Thesis topics from this project include:

• Analysing and modelling the evolution of bedforms in response to measured directional wave and mean current forcing.

• Analyzing and modelling nearbed stress and dissipation rates in the presence of local bedforms.

• Determining the effects of coastal solitons on sediment suspension

REQUIREMENTS:

• Matlab and timeseries analysis will be used extensively in the thesis work. OC4211 is helpful.

For a peek at previous experiments, see the Turbulence Laboratory Page

Last Reviewed: February 2003
stanton@nps.edu
Disclaimer
Privacy and Security Notice
Disclaimer for External Links

Material contained herein is made available for the purpose of peer review and discussion and does not necessarily reflect the the views of the Department of the Navy or the Department of Defense.