from 18 universities; six Federal
Institution of Oceanography, and Dr.
participated for 2 weeks each. For
agencies; two private companies,
Steven Elgar, now at the Woods
the surveyors and CRAB operators,
and three foreign countries, conduct-
Hole Oceanographic Institute, join
DUCK85 was also noteworthy as the
ing 30 separate experiments.
the ranks of experiment regulars.
first and only experiment where the
Results of SandyDuck `97 are just
CRAB was operated through the
The hydrodynamic success of
now reaching publication.
night. It was quickly learned that the
DELILAH, and the need for more
added data did not justify the
One little recognized but impor-
detailed information about sediment
extraordinary demand on the drivers.
tant benefit of these experiments
transport and morphologic evolution
was the opportunity for interaction
led to a plan for two additional field
DUCK85 was designed as a pre-
liminary experiment to SUPERDUCK
among the participants. The experi-
experiments with added components
ments brought together researchers
to resolve sediment transport and
in 1986, which again included a
that typically meet only at confer-
morphologic evolution at bed form
morphologic and sediment transport
ences perhaps once or twice a year.
scales from ripples to nearshore
component, and a hydrodynamic
For an extended period of 1 to 6
bars. The first, DUCK94 (Birkemeier
component, this time including a
months, these scientists and engi-
and Thornton 1994), was intended
509-m (1670-ft) longshore linear
neers, together with their students
as a test run for the new instrumen-
array of electromagnetic current
and technical support staff, shared
tation, more formal organization, and
meters (Crowson et al. 1988;
space, resources, and ideas. In
more complicated logistics to be
Birkemeier et al. 1989). The primary
addition to deploying instruments
exercised during the second experi-
purpose of this array had been to
and collecting data, meetings and
ment, SandyDuck '97. DUCK94 was
measure the dynamics of edge
seminars were held; hypotheses
held during August and October
waves on a barred beach profile, a
were proposed and discussed;
1994 to take advantage of the syn-
natural extension of edge wave work
abstracts and papers were written;
ergy offered by the National Science
on unbarred California beaches
and science was advanced.
Foundation's Coastal Ocean Pro-
(Oltman-Shay and Guza 1987).
DUCK94 was so intense and inter-
cesses (CoOP) experiment (Butman
While edge waves were indeed
esting an experience, that it was
1994), being conducted at the FRF
observed, the most startling result of
highlighted in a chapter by Dean
during that time. DUCK94 also saw
SUPERDUCK was the discovery of
(1999). SandyDuck '97 received
the first participation by the Cana-
shear waves, large fluctuations in
national recognition by being fea-
dian research group of Drs. Tony
what should have been steady long-
tured on the Cable News Network
Bowen and Alex Hay and their intro-
shore currents (Oltman-Shay, Howd,
(CNN), the Weather Channel, and in
duction of scanning sonars technolo-
and Birkemeier 1989). SUPERDUCK
USA Today.
gies to bed form studies. During
also saw the first appearance of Dr.
these two experiments, hundreds of
Edward Thornton of the Naval Post-
SandyDuck was followed by
sensors and instruments were
graduate School, an FRF experi-
SHOWEX, the Shoaling Waves
deployed in the surf zone, from
ment regular, collecting data from
Experiment, in the fall of 1999.
instrumented sleds pulled offshore,
his first mobile instrumented sled.
SHOWEX was sponsored by the
from the pier, and from the observa-
Office of Naval Research and
The 1990 DELILAH experiment
tion tower. The centerpiece of
designed to improve the scientific
was essentially an experiment of
DUCK94 was a primary cross-shore
understanding of the properties and
opportunity, providing an inshore
array of instruments that included
evolution of surface gravity waves
companion to SAMSON, a land and
wave gauges, current meters, and
typical of inner continental shelves
ocean experiment into the causes
acoustic altimeters to measure
up to the edge of the surf zone. The
and importance of ocean bottom
real-time bed level changes
FRF provided logistic support for the
microseisms. Planning was com-
(Figure 9). Additional instruments
shore-based operations including
pressed into the available 9-month
measured suspended sediments,
several surf zone components.
preparation period and the focus
bottom bedforms, and other parame-
was placed on hydrodynamics of the
In addition to the major experi-
ters (Birkemeier, Long, and
newly discovered shear waves and
ments, the FRF has also hosted a
Hathaway 1997). The success of the
their relationship to the longshore
large number of smaller specialty
DUCK94 array led to the larger spa-
current profile. Cross-shore and
experiments for users who benefit
tial array deployed during
longshore arrays measured waves,
from the logistic support, field exper-
SandyDuck (see Table 1). Both
currents, and swash dynamics
tise of the staff, and available data.
experiments benefited from the
(Birkemeier et al. 1997). These mea-
These studies, which have usually
involvement of a large segment of
surements also confirmed that, on a
been supported by the Navy or
the North American nearshore
barred beach, the peak in the long-
Army, have covered a wide range of
research community in the initial
shore current occurs over the
topics. These include atmospheric
planning of the objectives and the
nearshore trough, not over the bar
aerosols; mine detection and coun-
complex logistics required to define
crest as was predicted by theory at
termeasures; remote sensing ground
requirements and resource use
the time. The importance of large
truth; surveying techniques; ocean
(CRAB, boats, computers, office
mega-ripples to sediment movement
wave reflectance; wave growth and
space, etc.). In turn, SandyDuck `97
was also observed. DELILAH saw
transformation; dune and marsh
became the largest coastal field
Dr. Robert Guza of the Scripps
vegetation studies; and radar
experiment ever with participants
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