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Product Case Study

Sound Monitoring with Ferry-Based ADCPs Teledyne

RD
Instruments
Continual Transects Deliver Valuable Sustained Observations

Overview
Effective monitoring of environmental changes requires sustained and Instruments
widespread observations. To meet this challenge, some researchers have taken
advantage of “vessels of opportunity” that continually repeat a commercial
route. Such studies have examined algal blooms, estimated fluxes (water, heat, Product:
sediments), and validated satellite-sensed observations. WorkHorse ADCPs
Installing Acoustic Doppler Current Profilers (ADCPs) on commercial vessels Application:
provides a cost-effective way to take sustained current measurements with Sustained observation of a
high-spatial resolution along a specific transect. One caveat is that, at times, spatial section across strong
severe interference by bubbles and vessel noise can corrupt the ADCP profiles. tidal currents
Additionally, commercial vessels sometimes deviate from their regular route due
to traffic or weather. Product Lines:
Teledyne RDI Marine
In 2014, researchers in Washington State installed ADCPs on two public ferries Measurements
that run continual (daytime) transects across the entrance to Puget Sound.
Strong flows command this chokepoint where estuarine waters are exchanged Organizations:
with the ocean. This project aims to improve understanding of the environmental Applied Physics Laboratory,
influence of these flows, ranging from circulation patterns and low-oxygen University of Washington
intrusions to tidal energy resources.
Washington State Dept.
The four-year data set analyzed by the researchers contains at least twenty of Ecology
transects per day, even more in summer when two ferries are in service. The
ferries’ six-kilometer route across Admiralty Inlet spans steep topography that Washington State Ferries
channels the flow. The vessels run at 6 m/s, cutting through currents that can
exceed 3 m/s and have strong spatial gradients. Principals:
Jim Thomson
Pinging at 2 Hz, the 300 kHz ADCPs are programmed for 2 m vertical resolution Maricarmen Guerra
and averaged over 15-s ensembles. Thus the recorded current profiles are Carol Maloy
separated by 90 m (nominal) along the transect. Data are uploaded each day to Sheila Helgath
a public server.
Location:
Puget Sound, WA, USA

WorkHorse 300 kHz

ADCP inside a
streamlined frame
that is mounted on
a ferry’s hull.
Credit: Applied Physics
Laboratory, Univ. of Washington.
http://bit.ly/2Jx6wMu

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 Sound Monitoring with Ferry-Based ADCPs
CONTINUED

Results
Strong tidal streams dominate Admiralty Inlet’s circulation and ocean-estuarine
exchange as well as influence navigation and shipping. Tidal analysis was
therefore the first step for processing the ADCP data.

Careful quality control diminished the volume of data approved for analysis. Near-
surface ADCP data was consistently degraded. Thick bubble layers are known
to stream below commercial vessels because of their hull shape. Some data
was also lost due to the ADCP’s proximity to the propeller used during the return
passage of these double-ended ferries.

When the four years of transects were merged, current profiles were assigned
to a layered spatial grid. The grid’s cells were 200 m wide and 2 m thick.
Measurements were binned according to cross-stream position and depth. Thus,
a long time series was available within each cell although data was not evenly
spaced in time.

The tidal analysis took advantage of software that had been developed for a similar
ferry-based ADCP project in Long Island Sound. Results show tidal variation
across the section and through depth. For Admiralty Inlet, the five most energetic
tidal components contained 95% of the flow’s kinetic energy; the familiar twice-
daily lunar tide was by far the most dominant.

The control of the seabed topography in steering the tidal streams was
readily apparent in the spatial variation of the tidal results. Strongest
streams were found mid-channel where they reached below 50 m depth.
The high-flow regions were bordered on both sides by strong shears. TOP: Washington State ferry cutting its way
A wide span of slow flow reached to the eastern shore. through heavy seas.
Image courtesy of Ross Fotheringham. http://bit.ly/32ccrwE

After the tidal contributions were removed, the spatial pattern of time-averaged
BOTTOM: Puget Sound, Washington; ferry-
velocity showed two distinct flows. A widespread deep flow was headed into based ADCP site is marked in red.
Puget Sound across much of the section. Yet, at both ends of the section, the Credit: Adapted from USGS Archive. http://bit.ly/2MWpOwD

water was headed out, moving to the ocean.

This impressive project reinforces the value of commercial vessels for collecting
sustained observations of the ocean. As well as explaining the complex flow
regime at the entrance to Puget Sound, these ADCP time series results can
be used to inform water quality studies and to refine computer models of this
important coastal chokepoint. For more information, contact:

References:
Guerra, M., Thomson, J. et al. (2019), “Tidal current observations through Admiralty Inlet from ferry-mounted
current profilers,” J. Ocean Eng. Mar. Energy, https://doi.org/10.1007/s40722-019-00135-w TELEDYNE
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Tel: +1 858.842.2600
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©Teledyne Marine 2018. Proprietary, all rights reserved. For reference only. Rev. 11/2019 2 of 2