Coupled ADCPs can yield complete Reynolds stress tensor profiles in geophysical surface flows

Abstract

We introduce a new technique to measure profiles of each term in the Reynolds stress tensor using coupled acoustic Doppler current profilers (ADCPs). The technique is based on the variance method which is extended to the case with eight acoustic beams. Methods to analyze turbulence from a single ADCP rely on questionable assumptions on turbulence anisotropy ratios and on the requirement of perfect vertical alignment, which are no longer necessary with the coupled system. We apply the technique successfully to data collected in the Mahakam River, East Kalimantan, Indonesia. Copyright © 2011 by the American Geophysical Union.