Acoustic Doppler current profiler performance in near surface and bottom boundaries

The authors discuss the current measurement accuracy of the RD Instruments 1200-kHz acoustic Doppler current profiler (ADCP) in the near surface and bottom boundaries. Data are presented from tests. In the first series of tests, an ADCP was mounted on a bottom sled in an upward looking mode. The sled was towed at known speeds with and without surface waves. Additionally, tests were conducted with several acoustic baffle designs installed in the transducer head. The 1200-kHz ADCP has the ability to accurately measure mean currents in a dynamic wave induced flow field. Sidelobes can bias the measurements at 85% of the range when bottom or surface boundaries are present. The amount of bias is strongly dependent on surface wave characteristics. Sidelobe bias can be eliminated with a properly designed baffle system. The profilers have the ability to measure wave particle velocities with a properly configured system