Seabed

Underwater noise

Operational wind turbines produce noise, both in the air and under water. The level and nature of these underwater vibrations (frequency and amplitude) will be measured under varying weather conditions.

Morphology

The foundations of the wind turbines on the sea-floor will affect various local morphological processes (through sand transfer). The scope of these effects will be mapped by making underwater recordings using a number of techniques:

• a multi-beam echo-sounder for depth sounding of the sea-floor
• a side scan sonar to detect any obstacles on the sea-floor
• a sub-bottom profiler to detect any obstacles under the sea-floor at the level of the cable traces
• a magnetometer to detect the location of the underground cables.