A field study of horizontal current profilers

The performance of horizontal acoustic Doppler current profilers was studied by NOAA's Center for Operational Oceanographic Products and Services (COOPS). A 2-beam, 500 kHz Sontek side looker acoustic Doppler current profiler (SL-ADP), a 3-beam, 600 kHz RD Instruments horizontal acoustic Doppler current profiler (H-DCP), and a 4-beam, 1200 kHz RD Instruments bottom-mounted acoustic Doppler current profiler (ADCP) were deployed in the south branch of the Elizabeth River, Virginia. Tilt, pitch and depth of the horizontal sensor mount and instrument parameter settings (ping rate, cell size, and sampling interval) were varied. Data were collected in real time, nearly continuously, from mid-November 2001 through mid-February 2002. Results of velocity measurements and profiling range are presented and discussed. The current velocities of the horizontal profilers compared closely to the bottom-mounted ADCP and manufacturer's suggested profiling ranges.