Whitehaven Coastal Currents measurement

1. Where is Whitehaven?

Whitehaven is a town on the western edge of the county of Cumbria in England, within the Irish Sea. Its unique position has left a long-time and close relationship with the sea, which has played a key role in its foundation, economy, and lifestyle of residents.

The town has a rich history. It has been a key port for centuries, with an associated history of coal exports, shipbuilding, and trade. Whitehaven buildings consist of old and new buildings. There are traditional stone-built homes with typical features in the town center. The homes generally have thick, solid walls, narrow-framed windows, and steeply pitched roofs, with a classic charm. The Georgian - period structures, with their complex facade and symmetrical designs, make up part of the town's charm. Around the harbour and along the high streets are more modern structures. These contain up- to-date shops, cafes, and places to stay, and these serve the needs of the local population and the tourists visiting the town at all times.

The residents of Whitehaven own a robust and enduring relationship with the sea. Fishing is an old tradition that has been passed down through generations. Despite the way the fishing economy has changed, there are local fishermen who set out from the harbour. The fish they return with are cod, haddock, and mackerel. The harbour is not just a fishing area but also popular among locals and foreigners for boat excursions. People are able to inhale the fresh sea air, the soaring seabirds overhead, and the views of the Irish Sea.

The seashores and seas of Whitehaven are of vital importance to the environment. The Irish Sea there is home to a diverse array of marine animals. Seals are often seen lying on the sandbanks, and seabirds such as gulls, terns, and cormorants are often seen. The seabed is topographically diverse, with sandy areas, individual rocky outcrops, and underwater channels. These not only create a high biodiversity but also have a major contribution to the water movement.

2. What is the Condition of the Coastal Currents Off Whitehaven?

The coastal currents off Whitehaven are influenced by a number of factors. Tidal forces are one of the main factors. Irish Sea tides are semi-diurnal, which means there are two high waters and two low waters daily. The range is variable and creates tidal currents of a maximum of up to 2 - 3 knots in locations like at or near the mouths of the rivers, or areas that possess a noticeable coastline shape. During high tide, water moves onshore, bringing sediments and nutrients from the open sea. This makes the marine ecosystem in the region rich, supporting food and life for various sea creatures. During low tide, water recedes, and intertidal zones are exposed, revealing small crabs, sea anemones, and other seaweed species.

Wind is also significant. Strong south - westerly winds are capable of piling surface water on to the shore, raising the coastal currents. The winds create waves that mix with the currents and give rise to a more complex flow regime. Northerly winds have the ability to drive the water out from the beach. The topography of the coast, including headlands, bays, and the unusual profile of the Cumbrian coast, causes the currents to converge and diverge in different places. Submarine sandbars and rocky outcrops also introduce complexity to the flows of current. These can be either channels or barriers, deflection of water flow, and zones of turbulent or tranquil water. The input of fresh water by the rivers which empty into the Irish Sea off Whitehaven also affects the local flows of current. The fresh water, being lighter than sea water, rests on the surface and flows seaward, mingling with tidal and wind - driven currents.

3. How to Observe Whitehaven's Coastal Water Flow?

Surface Drifting Buoy Method

Surface drifting buoys are a simple and effective way to observe surface - level currents off Whitehaven. The buoys are equipped with GPS or satellite - based tracking systems. Upon their release into water, they follow the surface drift. Scientists are able to trace their course along time. They can calculate speed and direction of the surface water by analyzing the course of the buoy. It is limited to the upper layers of the column of water. It may not reflect precisely what is taking place in the deeper regions of the water, where the current may be altered by such parameters as temperature and salinity shifts.

Moored Ship Method

In the moored ship method, a vessel is moored at some fixed point along Whitehaven's shore. After that, instruments to measure currents such as electromagnetic current meters are lowered. Instruments like these may be used to measure the velocity of water flow at various levels. They provide an accurate vertical profile of the direction and speed of the current. However, this method is restricted to a single place. Also, the vessel can disturb the inherent flow of water. The structure of the ship and the anchoring method can result in turbulence in the water, which may have a bearing on the accuracy of the measurements.

Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP) Method

ADCPs have revolutionized the measurement of coastal currents off Whitehaven. ADCPs are able to sample the velocity profile of the complete water column from the bottom of the sea up to the top. ADCPs gauge the movement of the water without entering into it with sound waves. They transmit acoustic pulses and measure the Doppler shift of backscattered echoes from suspended particles in the water, such as sediment, plankton, or microscopic bubbles. They may then utilize this to calculate the current velocity at different depths. This gives them a general image of the existing structure and is highly appropriate to explore the complex coastal current regime at Whitehaven.

4. What is Required for High-Quality Measurement of Whitehaven Coastal Currents?

Equipment Material Reliability

In high-quality measurement of the coastal currents off Whitehaven, equipment material reliability is essential. The ADCP profiler casing must be made of a material that is resistant to the severe marine environment of the Irish Sea. Titanium alloy is a good option. Its rigidity is sufficient to resist the impact of powerful water currents, potential collision with floating debris, and corrosive seawater environment. Its elastic modulus is low, indicating that it is flexible and cannot be easily destroyed by mechanical stress. Moreover, its superior corrosion resistance allows the ADCP meter to be left in the water for long monitoring periods without a considerable loss of function.

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

It is easier to mount and manage a light and compact ADCP flow meter. You can deploy it on a small research vessel, anchor it on a buoy, or set it on the ocean floor. It also disturbs the water flow naturally to a smaller extent, leading to more accurate readings. Low power consumption is essential for long-term autonomous observation, especially with battery-operated systems. Low-cost ADCP enables wide-scale deployment. This is needed to gain complete knowledge of the complex coastal current dynamics off Whitehaven. With more ADCPs distributed across different locations, we can see how the currents vary across the area better.

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

Based on Application

• Shipborne ADCP: Ideally suited to obtain real - time current data along a shipping route near Whitehaven. It can be used for oceanographic surveys, studying the general circulation in the area, and for shipping route optimization, if there is any in the area.
• Bottom-mounted ADCP: Ideal for fixed-point monitoring over the long term of seabed currents. Useful in studying coastal currents over long periods and its trend changes due to the impact of climate change on the coastal marine environment.
• Buoy - mounted ADCP: Especially suited to quantify surface - level currents over a large area since the buoy drifts with the water. It shows insight into the spatial gradient of the surface currents and the exchange between the Irish Sea and coastal waters.

Based on Water Depth

• 600kHz ADCP: Appropriate for water depths of approximately 70m, providing high-resolution measurements in the relatively shallow waters off Whitehaven.
• 300kHz ADCP: Appropriate for water depths of approximately 110m, which could prove useful for locations with slightly deeper sections in the Irish Sea near the town.
• 75kHz ADCP: Can be used in deep-water settings. Even though coastal waters off the Whitehaven shore are generally not deep, it would be of use in situations where deeper-layer currents are under investigation or if there is a deeper channel to measure, and it can reach up to currents 1000m deep.

There are certain popular ADCP manufacturers in the global market, and they are Teledyne RDI, Nortek, and Sontek. In case you need a budget option, all-titanium alloy China Sonar PandaADCP is an excellent middle ground between cost and quality. Further details are provided at (https://china-sonar.com/).

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