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DESIGN
AND IMPLEMENTATION OF A WAVE-CURRENT SURGE MONITORING PROGRAM FOR
COASTAL LOUISIANA
USING WAVCIS: WAVE-CURRENT INFORMATION SYSTEM
1. Objective of the Monitoring Program
The objective of WAVCIS (wave-current information system) is to provide wave
information (sea state) including wave height, period, direction of propagation,
water level, surge, near surface current speed and direction and meteorological
conditions on a real time basis around
the entire Louisiana coast.
2. Need for the Monitoring Program
Prior to the inception of WAVCIS, ongoing accurate reports on sea state off the
Louisiana coast were not available with the exception of a National Data Buoy
Center buoy
(NDBC
42040)
located approximately 100 km (62 miles) east of the mouth of the Mississippi
River (see Figure 1 for location). The entire stretch of coastline from Breton
Sound to the Louisiana-Texas border was completely devoid of instrumentation
capable
of supplying accurate sea state conditions on a
regular basis. As shown in Figure 1, these data were,
however, available for every other state in the Gulf of Mexico through the NDBC
network of buoys. Only water level information was obtained from two CMAN stations
at Grand Isle and the mouth of the Mississippi River. Thus, at best reports on
offshore conditions were generally inadequate because they rely on spatially
constrained observations from oil platforms, ships, or hindcasts from wind information.
The
closest source of sea state information for south central Louisiana was 480
km
(300 miles) south of the coastline (NDBC 42001 on Figure
1).
3. Monitoring Program Overview
WAVCIS involves offshore deployment of instrumentation around the entire
state in order to provide real time information on a frequent basis (3 hours
or less) describing sea state, surface current and meteorological conditions.
The instrumentation provide information from deep to shallow water off the
Louisiana coast in addition to the major bays. As
summarized schematically in Figure 2, information
from each station is transmitted by a solar powered cellular link to a
base
station at Louisiana State University where it undergoes quality control,
post-processing and archiving in an online database. The information is then
made available on the World Wide Web and is accessible to computers with
an Internet connection and web browser. Various data displays are available
for the real time information as well as a specified time history for archived
data. A map showing the provisional location of each of the stations is presented
in Figure 3.
4. Benefits of the Monitoring Program
WAVCIS is a state-of-the-art monitoring program, which by virtue provides
a highly unique online information database for multiple uses. A few examples
are as follows:
· Information necessary to provide an emergency response decision tool for
agencies faced with decision making during storm threats in the Gulf of Mexico
involving evacuation or early
warning enhancement.
· Because the information is archived, it forms a critical database
for use in monitoring studies of barrier island and wetland restoration projects
(e.g., CWPPRA) around the entire
state.
· Information necessary to assist in decision making during oil spill response
coordination.
· Information useful for assisting operations support for offshore industries,
commerce and
trade.
5. Design, Fabrication, Deployment and Maintenance of the Monitoring
System
The monitoring program is designed, implemented and maintained by scientists
and highly skilled technical support staff in the Coastal Studies Institute at
Louisiana State University.
6. Implementation and Maintenance Costs
Implementation of the monitoring program initially cost approximately one
million dollars. For subsequent years, maintenance costs will approximate $500,000
per year for an initial 5
year period.
Program Director
Dr. Gregory W. Stone
James P. Morgan Distinguished Professor
Coastal Studies Institute,
and
Department of Oceanography and coastal Sciences
323 Howe-Russell Geoscience Complex
Louisiana State University
Baton Rouge, LA 70803
Voice:(225)578-6188
Fax:(225)578-2520
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