Projects and Experiments at the Field Research Facility
- DUCK82 October 1982. A multi-agency nearshore processes experiment was conducted to
measure the nearshore morphological response to storm-induced waves and currents. This
experiment provided some of the first ever quantitative data on the rapid bottom changes that
occur in the surf zone during storms.
- DUCK85 September - October 1985. Similar to DUCK82, but more frequent surveys and a
permanent array of surf zone instrumentation were used to measure the processes.
- SUPERDUCK September - October 1986. This experiment involved people from seven
agencies, ten universities, and three foreign countries. Thirty different studies were
conducted during this two-phase experiment including detailed measurements of the
alongshore current in the surf zone. One major discovery was of shear waves, a wave like
surf zone instability which can account for a significant percentage of the energy in the surf
zone, especially during storms.
- DELILAH October 1990 - sponsored by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), the
Office of Naval Research (ONR), and the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL). Two instrument
arrays were deployed including a 24 element directional wave array at - 13 m depth and a 16
element wave and current array placed in the surf zone. Bottom changes were monitored by
daily surveys of the region around the surf zone instruments. Most data are available.
- DUCK94 & SandyDuck '97 Sponsored by the US Army Corps of Engineers, Office of Naval
Research, and the US Geological Survey the objectives of these coastal field experiments is to
advance our fundamental understanding of sediment transport in the nearshore zone.
DUCK94, conducted in August and October 1994, was a preliminary effort designed to give
the investigators an opportunity to field test their theories and equipment prior to the more
comprehensive SandyDuck '97.
- RIB May 1996 - The Rapidly Installed Breakwater (RIB) is being developed by CERC of the
U.S. Army Waterways Experiment Station to meet the needs of military operations.
- STORM April 1997 - The STORM team uses the unique capability of the Sensor Insertion
System (SIS) to measure nearshore processes related to sediment transport during storms and
the impact of these processes on nearshore bathymetry.
- Beach Probing System Duck 1998 - During Fall 1998, the FRF hosted an
experiment conducted by Dr. Joan Oltman-Shay of Northwest Research
Associates to investigate, using both simulated and field data, the
feasibility of using offshore measurements of the surface gravity wave field
to remotely sense the inshore environment (hydrography, currents, and
breakers). Two along-shore aligned arrays of seven (7) Sensor Packages each
were deployed: at depths of 4 and 6.5 meters. Inshore of 4 m, the FRF
deployed a complimentary cross-shore array of 4 current meters.
- SHOWEX (SHOaling Waves Experiment)
To be held at Duck during fall 1999.
It is part of The SHOALING WAVES DRI, a five year field oriented Department
Research Initiative by the Office of Naval Research to improve the
scientific understanding of the properties and evolution of surface gravity
waves in intermediate and shallow water depths.
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