As UK and Ireland distributors of the Datawell bv “Waverider” range, RS Aqua can report that the many directional Waverider buoys deployed along the English south coast by the Channel Coastal Observatory became a focus of attention last week as one of the severest storms in recent times passed through the south of England heading east.

Some 23 Waverider buoys, installed at various coastal locations in the path of the storm, continued to gather and transmit wave data as winds reached a maximum measured gust of 99 mph. From Selsey Bill to Beachy Head in particular, several buoys measured their highest waves for a decade, with significant wave heights exceeding 4.3m in 10m CD water depth.

The wave data values were processed and displayed in near real-time on the CCO website which registered a doubling of “hits” during the storm’s duration to circa half a million per day.

Dr Travis Mason, Coastal Processes Team Leader at CCO, commented that “all our Waveriders came through the storm completely unscathed…as we expected!”

The Channel Coastal Observatory (CCO) is the data management centre for the Regional Coastal Monitoring Programmes and is hosted by New Forest District Council, in partnership with the University of Southampton and the National Oceanography Centre, Southampton. Each regional programme provides a consistent approach to coastal process monitoring, producing information for the development of strategic shoreline management plans, coastal defence strategies and operational management of coastal protection and flood defence. A host of coastal measurements are routinely monitored and can be accessed free of charge via the website. The umbrella programme is managed by CCO on behalf of the Coastal Groups and is funded by DEFRA, in partnership with the maritime Local Authorities and the Environment Agency.

November 05, 2013