The Impact of Macroalgae on Mean and Turbulent Flow Fields

In this paper, we quantify the mean and turbulent flow fields around live macroalgae within a tidal inlet in Norway. Two Laminaria digitata specimens ~0.50 m apart were selected for detailed study and a profiling ADV was used to collect 45 velocity profiles, each composed of up to seven 35 mm-high profiles collected for 240 s at 100 Hz, at a streamwise spacing of 0.25 m and cross-stream spacing of 0.20 m. To quantify the impact of the macroalgae, measurements were repeated over a sparser grid after the region had been completely cleared of algae and major roughness elements.