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In situ observations of suspended particulate matter plumes at an offshore wind farm, southern North Sea

Geo-Marine Letters volume 35, pages 247–255 (2015)Cite this article

Abstract

Suspended particulate matter (SPM) plumes associated with the monopile foundations of the Belgian offshore wind farm (OWF) Belwind I were acoustically profiled by means of a Doppler current profiler (ADCP). Together with the analysis of a bottom lander dataset of optical and acoustic backscatter sensors (OBSs and ADPs respectively), the spatiotemporal SPM plume dynamics were inferred. The fieldwork comprised (1) near-bed measurements of hydrodynamics and SPM concentrations in the direct vicinity of the wind turbines, by means of a bottom lander over a spring–neap cycle in May 2010; this dataset represents a typically tide-driven situation because there was no significant meteorological forcing during the measurement period; (2) additional vessel-based measurements conducted in May 2013 to capture the SPM plumes inside and outside the OWF over part of a tidal cycle. Both in situ datasets revealed that the SPM plumes were generated at the turbine piles, consistent with aerial and space-borne imagery. The SPM plumes are well aligned with the tidal current direction in the wake of the monopiles, concentrations being estimated to reach up to 5 times that of the background concentration of about 3 mg/l. It is suggested that the epifaunal communities colonizing the monopile surface and the protective rock collar at the base play a key role as source of the suspended matter recorded in the plumes. The organisms filter and trap fine SPM from the water column, resulting in predominant accumulation of SPM, including detritus and (pseudo-) faeces, at the base of the piles. When tidal currents exceed a certain velocity, fine particles in the near-bed fluff layer are re-suspended and transported downstream in the wake of the piles.

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Acknowledgements

Ship time aboard RV Belgica was provided by BELSPO and RBINS–Operational Directorate Natural Environment (OD Nature). We thank L. Naudts, J. Backers and K. Hindryckx for all technical aspects of the bottom lander used for this study, F. Francken for pre-processing and archiving the measurements, as well as Dries Van den Eynde, Francis Kerckhof, Steven Degraer and Alain Norro for fruitful discussions. Two anonymous reviewers are thanked for their thorough reading of the manuscript and their helpful comments.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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  1. Operational Directorate Natural Environment, Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, Gulledelle 100, 1200, Brussels, Belgium

    Matthias Baeye & Michael Fettweis

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  1. Matthias Baeye
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  2. Michael Fettweis
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Correspondence to Matthias Baeye.

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Baeye, M., Fettweis, M. In situ observations of suspended particulate matter plumes at an offshore wind farm, southern North Sea. Geo-Mar Lett 35, 247–255 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00367-015-0404-8

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Keywords

  • Wind Turbine
  • Suspended Particulate Matter
  • Spring Tide
  • Receive Signal Strength Indicator
  • Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler