Surface Currents During The ARSLOE Storm Measured By The CODAR Crossed-Loop System

Data from a single-site CODAR system were used to study near-shore surface currents during a storm at ARSLOE. The dominant surface currents resulted from the storm winds and waves; tidal currents observed were nearly an order of magnitude weaker. The onshore and alongshore current components changed direction when these components of the wind reversed. Average current speed was 2.13% of the wind. Overall surface current direction was more nearly parallel to the coast than the wind. One notable exception occurred then the onshore wind component that had been blowing several days ceased; surface flow was nearly all offshore as the storm-surge sea level dropped back to normal.