Belgian coastal area

Raw current meter output parameters; Horizontal velocity of the water column (currents); Temperature of the water column

The aim of this program is to provide current data for the calibration of several hydrodynamical models developed at MUMM. These models cover the entire North Sea and are used to simulate impacts of pollutants in the marine environment, to predict storm surges, to study the influence of sand and gravel extraction, to predict the displacement of oil slicks, etc. The data set includes the data from over 250 moorings of autonomous self recording current meters. The mooring periods are about 6 weeks on average. The recording interval of the NBA current meters has been set to 10 minutes and for the AMF current meters to 7.5 minutes. The station near the light vessel 'WESTHINDER' (51° 23'00sN, 02° 26'20sE) covers 41 periods from 1977 to 1986. The station at the 'Thornton bank' (51° 34'18sN, 02° 59'14sE) covers 10 periods from 1977 to 1980. The station at the 'Wandelaar bank' (51° 23'02sN, 03° 03'03sE) covers 12 periods from 1977 to 1980. The station at the 'Trappegeer bank' (51° 08'29sN, 02° 34'20sE) covers 11 periods from 1979 to 1980. The station at the 'Nieuwpoort bank' (51° 10'20sN, 02° 36'15sE) covers 12 periods from 1981 to 1982. The station at the 'Kwintebank' (51° 21'16sN, 02° 42'59sE) covers 11 periods from 1981 to 1982. All other stations cover less than 4 periods. The data processing consists of adding the exact time stamp, calculation of physical values with respect to calibration, interpolation of small gaps, harmonic analysis, and calculation of residual currents.

Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, Operational Directorate Natural Environment, Belgian Marine Data Centre
Vautierstraat 29
Brussels

1000
Belgium