CURRENT, WAVE AND TIDAL OBSERVATIONS FROM AHORIZONTAL ACOUSTIC DOPPLER PROFILER INSTALLED ONSCRIPPS PIER IN LA JOLLA, CALIFORNIA, USA

摘要

Horizontal (side-looking) acoustic Doppler current profilers are emerging as an attractive alternative to bottom-mounted profilers in direct monitoring of currents, waves and tides in the nearshore region. This study evaluates the feasibility of a single side-looking Doppler current profiler in mapping the currents in a shallow, non-channelized flow field (the open nearshore region). We discuss the limitations, considerations, and capabilities of one such system. Wave and tide data collected by the system are also presented. Operational concepts of flow homogeneity, installation aspect ratio and side lobe interference are addressed. The feasibility of the system to monitor events such as rip currents is also discussed.