How to Measure the Coastal Currents of Southport

1. Where is Southport?

Southport is a quaint seaside resort in Lancashire, North West England, on the Irish Sea. Its advantageous location has provided it with a long - standing and intimate connection with the sea, which has contributed significantly to its development, economy, and lifestyle of its inhabitants.

Southport has a rich history. It was a tiny fishing settlement and over time developed as a favourite seaside resort. Architecture of Southport is a mixture of older and contemporary styles. In the town center, there are beautiful Victorian-period buildings. These buildings have ornate facades, large bay windows, and ornate ironwork, a feeling of nostalgia and refinement. Along the coastline, modern holiday hotels, stylish cafes, and various entertainment facilities have sprung up. These cater to both the local community and the numerous tourists who visit throughout the year.

The people of Southport have a deep - rooted bond with the sea. Although the scale of the fishing industry has decreased compared to the past, the sea still lies at the heart of the town's life. The expansive sandy coastlines bring humans to soak in the sun, sand, and sea. Aquatic activities like surfing and swimming are most sought after. Further, the sea introduces plentiful touristic resources for the locality as tourists converge there to absorb the peculiar charm of the seacoast town.

Beaches and the coastline adjacent to Southport play an integral part in supporting the local ecology. The Irish Sea, here, harbors a rich variety of aquatic life. Visible always are the seals at times resting on sandbanks. Above one sees birds like gulls, terns, and cormorants soaring across the blue sky. The seabed is topographically a complex stretch of sandy areas and spread rocky outcrops and the channels under water. These features also support rich biodiversity and serve important roles in the movement of the water.

2. What's the Situation of the Coastal Currents Near Southport?

Coastal currents around Southport are influenced by many factors. Tidal forces play a crucial role. The Irish Sea is semi-diurnal, having two high tides and two low tides per day. The tidal range can vary. In some areas, where the tidal currents may run at the speed of up to 2 - 3 knots, around small inlets or where the shape of the coast is sharper, the runoff due to high tide may sweep towards the shores or beaches along with richer nutrients and sediment from the open sea. This process enriches the nutrient and habitat levels for various sea creatures. When the tide is low, the water recedes, and the intertidal zones are exposed, revealing small crabs, sea anemones, and different types of seaweed.

Wind is another crucial factor. Prevailing south - westerly winds can push surface waters towards the coast, strengthening the coastal currents. These winds also generate waves that interact with the currents, creating a more complex flow pattern. Northerly winds may push the water out from the shore. The form of the coastline, with headlands and bays, and the special characteristics of the Lancashire coast, makes the currents converge and diverge in various places. Rocky outcrops beneath the sea and sandbars add complexity to the current flows. These may be barriers or channels, deflecting the water flow and producing regions of still or turbulent water. Besides, the freshwater input from minor nearby streams may influence the current patterns of the local area. Freshwater is less dense than seawater and thus creates a top layer that drifts towards the sea and comes into contact with the tidal and wind - induced water movement.

3. How to Observe the Coastal Water Flow of Southport?

Surface Drifting Buoy Method

Surface drifting buoys are a simple yet effective way to observe the surface - level currents near Southport. These buoys are equipped with GPS or satellite - based tracking systems. Once they are released into the water, the surface currents carry them. Scientists can track their movement over time. By analyzing the buoy's path, they can estimate the speed and direction of the surface waters. However, this method is limited to the upper few meters of the water column. It might not accurately represent what's happening in the deeper parts of the water, where the currents can be different due to factors like temperature and salinity changes.

Moored Ship Method

In the moored ship method, a ship is anchored at a specific location near Southport's coast. Then, present-measuring instruments like electromagnetic current meters are employed. They can measure water flow at different depths. They give a precise vertical profile of the direction and speed of the current. Nevertheless, the technique is restricted to a point. In addition, the presence of the ship can actually disrupt the natural flow of water. The ship's hull and the way it is anchored can create turbulence in the water, which may affect the accuracy of the measurements.

Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP) Method

ADCPs have revolutionized the measurement of coastal currents near Southport. They can measure the velocity profile of the entire water column from the surface to the seabed. ADCPs use sound waves to non-intrusively measure the water flow. They release sound pulses and estimate the Doppler shift of returned signals from particles suspended in water, e.g., sediment, plankton, or minute bubbles. They calculate the current speed at various levels from this. This provides an overall picture of the current configuration and is most appropriate for exploring the intricate coast current dynamics about Southport.

4. What's Needed for High-Quality Measurement of Southport Coastal Currents?

Equipment Material Reliability

For high - quality measurement of the coastal currents near Southport, the reliability of the equipment materials is crucial. The casing of the ADCP flow meter should be made of a material that can withstand the harsh marine environment of the Irish Sea. Titanium alloy is an excellent choice. It can withstand the effects of powerful currents of water, collisions with possible floating objects, and the corrosion caused by sea water. It is flexible in its low elastic modulus, protecting against mechanical damage. Additionally, its excellent resistance to corrosion will keep the ADCP current profiler in place for long-term observation without undue loss of accuracy.

Small Size, Light Weight, Low Power Consumption, and Low Cost

A light weight and small ADCP current meter is simpler to install and run. You can mount it on a small research ship, mount it on a buoy, or place it on the seafloor. It also has less effect on the natural water flow, resulting in more precise measurements. Low power consumption is essential for long-term autonomous monitoring, especially when employing battery - powered systems. A cost-effective ADCP makes extended deployment possible. This is vital in comprehensively understanding the complex coastal current dynamics surrounding Southport. With more ADCPs deployed at other sites, we can better comprehend how the currents vary across the region.

5. How to Choose the Right Equipment for Current Measurement?

Based on Usage

• Shipborne ADCP: Ideal for obtaining real-time current data along a ship's route near Southport. It can be used for oceanographic surveys, studying the general circulation in the area, and for optimizing shipping routes, if there are any in the vicinity.
• Bottom-mounted ADCP: Ideal for long-term, fixed-point monitoring of seabed currents. This is useful in investigating long-term trends in the coastal currents, e.g., the effect of climate change on the local marine ecosystem.
• Buoy-mounted ADCP: Ideally suited for observing surface-level currents over a large area as the buoy is carried with the water. It serves to reveal the spatial variability of the surface currents and the interaction between the coastal waters and the open Irish Sea.

Based on Water Depth

• 600kHz ADCP: Suitable for water depths of up to approximately 70m, offering high-resolution measurements in the comparatively shallow waters off Southport.
• 300kHz ADCP: Ideal for water depths of approximately 110m, which could be beneficial in the slightly deeper sections of the Irish Sea close to the town.
• 75kHz ADCP: Designed for deep-water applications. Even though the waters near Southport are generally not extremely deep, it can be used for studies related to the deeper - layer currents or for areas with deeper channels, capable of measuring currents at depths of up to 1000m.

There are quite a few established ADCP brands in the world market, e.g., Teledyne RDI, Nortek, and Sontek. If you are looking for an economical alternative, China Sonar PandaADCP, constructed of all-titanium alloy, is a good balance between price and quality. You may find more about it at (https://china-sonar.com/).

Here is a table with some well known ADCP instrument brands and models.