Physical Measurements platform
The mission of the Physical Measurements platform is to carry out hydro-sedimentary and morphological measurements in coastal areas. Managed by the METHYS team, the platform provides UMR EPOC’s teams, and if applicable, external teams and service providers, with support in implementing its extensive range of instruments and processing the data collected. In response to the needs of researchers and service providers, the platform also offers a constant technological watch to integrate the latest innovations, tests, and validations to provide effective support for the use of instruments, and close collaboration with subcontractors specialising in the design of instrumental equipment.
Managers
Scientific leader
Isabel Jalon Rojas
Technical manager
Marine Vandenhove
Applications / Expertises
Hydrodynamics :
- This platform offers an exhaustive understanding of the movements and flows of coastal, nearshore and estuarine waters. Using cutting-edge instruments, it enables detailed analysis of physical, hydro-sedimentary and environmental parameters, promoting a better understanding of the hydrodynamic processes that are crucial for the management and preservation of coastal zones.
Types of measurements : current velocities and directions using Eulerian and Lagrangian approaches, water height, waves, water level, turbidity, salinity, temperature, water sampling, concentration of suspended solids.
Morphodynamics :
- The platform also specialises in the analysis of altimetric variations in coastal-bottom, beaches, dunes, and mudflats, as well as in the study of sedimentary displacements. This specialisation, covering time scales ranging from event-driven to long-term, contributes to a better understanding of the evolutionary dynamics of coastal zones, highlighting the complex interactions between hydrodynamic and morphodynamic processes.
Types of measurements: bathymetry and coastal topography, measurements positioning, precise mapping of relief changes, sediment properties, erosion and deposition rates.
Instruments
Currentology :
- 6 ADCP current profilers: Nortek Signature 500, Nortek Signature 100, RDI 600.
- KHz, RDI Sentinel v20, RDI Rio Grande, Nortek Aquadopp 2 MHz.
- 2 Nortek ADV current meters.
- 1 HS Engineer electromagnetic current meter.
- 10 Lagrangian drifting buoys.
Hydrology and environmental parameters :
- 1 micro-AUV YUCO-PHYSICO.
- 3 multi-parameter probes: AML Plus X and NKE WIMO.
- 1 OBS3A turbidimeter.
- 2 Sontek Castaway CTDs.
- 1 ASCENSION Profiler Ocean Diagnostic automatic sampler.
- 3 autonomous pressure sensors OSS Wave Gauge.
- 1 synchronised pressure sensor OSS Wave Gauge Blue.
- 4 RBR pressure transducers.
Bathymetry and Topography :
- PA500 single-frequency echo sounder.
- ECHOTRAC CV100 dual-frequency echo sounder.
- Leica GS10 GNSS positioning device.
- 2 Echologger EA400, AA400 acoustic altimeters.