Development of ADCP techniques to measure turbulence

Impact: Technological, Environmental

Description of impact

Methods developed in Bangor are being supplied with commercially available marine sensors for the measurement of marine turbulence. These applications are in collorations with two companies, Nortec and SonarDyne.

Impact Summary for the General Public

Turbulence is a key parameter in the marine environment as it is a major determinate of stress on structures in flows, mixing etc. Assessment of marine turbulence are increasingly part of environmental impact assessments in sub-surface developments, for example related to marine renewable energy.

Description of the underpinning research

The "structure function" method for the determination of profiles of turbulent dissipation using off-the-shelf ADCPs was first developed in Bangor and published in Wiles et al (2006). Geophysical Research Letters. 33, 21, p. L21608.
We have subsequently defined this measurement to widen it's applicability with keeping paste with developments in ADCP technology:
Lucas et al (2014). Journal of Atmospheric and Oceanic Technology, 31, 8, p. 1826-1837.
Scannell et al (2017). Journal of Atmospheric and Oceanic Technology. 34, 10, p. 2257-2273
Scannell et al (2022). Ocean Science. 18, 1, p. 169–192

The significance of the development of this new technique was recognized through the award of the 2018 Royal Meteorological Society Visalia award.

Global leadership in this field is evidenced by Professor Yueng-Djern Lenn co-chairing the International Science Council Scientific Committee on Oceanic Research working group on best practices for acquiring and processing turbulence data, and leads the group dealing with ADCP techniques.

Beneficiaries and reach of impact

Manufacturers of ADCPs. Marine survey companies.

General Notes

Elements of this work were covered in a 2014 UoA7 impact case study, however, much progress has been made then as evidence by the commercial uptake of this technique.
Impact statusOngoing
Category of impactTechnological, Environmental

Related content