SeaArt as a guest in the Netherlands
Two scientists of the SeaArt team were guests at the "Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research" (NIOZ) in the Netherlands for two months during the summer 2018 and were able to use the equipment of the institute for the simulation of wave movements and ocean currents within the scope of a cooperation.
The influence of wave energy on the growth of seagrass seedlings was tested in wave pools. For this purpose, natural seagrass was planted in all basins and artificial seagrass was installed in only half of the basins in front of the natural one. Parameters such as wave height, wave velocity, turbidity and plant growth were recorded.
The wave and current channel was filled with sea water and in the test section a natural seabed was simulated in which individual seagrass plants were planted. Subsequently, different wave intensities and current velocities were simulated, observing the behaviour of the seagrass and determining the threshold value from which plants tear out. In addition, sand erosion was measured in the test track. In this way, it can be determined which current and wave reduction the artificial structure must achieve in order to promote the growth of the natural seagrass. The data collected is currently being evaluated.
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Installation of the artificial seagrass -
Wave basin with artificial seagrass -
Selection of seagrass plants -
Seagrass in the wave basin -
Wave tanks -
Drag force measurement -
Measurement of photosynthesis performance -
Measurement of seagrass -
Side view of the current flume with artificial and natural seagrass