Monopile-induced turbulence and sediment redistribution form visible wakes in offshore wind farms 

[abstract] Offshore wind farms are becoming an increasingly common feature in the marine environment as a renewable energy source. There is a growing body of evidence on the effects of wind farms on the seabed and its organisms. However, an important and understudied aspect of site development is the interaction of turbine foundations on the surrounding marine environment. Structures exert significant disturbance on tides, waves and currents; these are visible as optically-distinct, elongate wakes at the sea surface with elevated suspended particulate matter. Despite this, there is uncertainty on the mechanisms that lead to the visible manifestation of wakes at turbine foundations, primarily due to a lack of direct measurements. Here, in situ measurements along with a 15-year time series of satellite images of the Thanet offshore wind farm, located within the Thames Estuary, were used to investigate the formation of visible monopile wakes, and the effects these have on the surrounding water column. We show the optically distinct wakes are near-constant at Thanet; visible in >90% of all satellite images, yet no regional change in sea surface turbidity could be attributed to wind farm construction or operation. Monopile wake in situ water samples and acoustic Doppler current profiler (ADCP) backscatter measurements demonstrated colour change related to elevated sea surface sediment concentration. However, averaged water column measurements of suspended sediment within wakes, and upstream of monopiles, remained consistent. These measurements demonstrate that sediment was redistributed towards surface waters, rather than additional sediment becoming suspended in the wake. ADCP velocity measurements supported a mechanism of sediment lofting towards the surface, with enhanced vertically upwards flow recorded in wakes.

Lewis P. Bailey, Robert M. Dorrell, Ina Kostakis, David McKee, Dan Parsons, Jon Rees, James Strong, Stephen Simmons and Rodney Forster

Energy and Environment Institute, University of Hull, United Kingdom
Department of Earth, Energy and Environment, University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Physics Department, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, United Kingdom
Department of Arctic and Marine Biology, University of the Arctic in Tromsø, Norway
Loughborough Centre for Sustainable Transitions: Energy, Environment and Resilience, Loughborough University, United Kingdom
Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Research (Cefas), Lowestoft, United Kingdom
Hull Marine Laboratory, University of Hull, United Kingdom
Ocean BioGeosciences, National Oceanography Centre, Southampton, United Kingdom

Frontiers in Earth Science, Volume 12 – 2024 | doi: 10.3389/feart.2024.1383726

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