Design and application of buoy system for on-the-fly observation of surface current in closure water area

The current velocity and direction can be monitored by acoustic Doppler current profiler (ADCP) or flow velocity and direction meter. However, both the two devices need vessel as support. Moreover, it is dangerous to run the vessel in the water area with acute-current velocity. Besides, ADCP exists blind area in the upper of ADCP transducer, and can not acquire the current velocity in this area. In order to overcome the above problems, a buoy floating system for on-the fly observation of surface current in closure water area is designed for fulfilling the work. The buoy design, data acquisition, data processing are study in this paper. The system is proved to stability and accuracy in acquiring the surface current velocity and direction. An actual engineering application was also proved above conclusions.