Researchers led by a professor at the Universidad del Valle (Univalle) have characterised for the first time transient ocean waves in the Colombian Caribbean.
Globally, some 2,000 GW of installed offshore wind capacity will be needed to limit global temperature rise to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, according to forecasts by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA).
But the presence of transient currents could affect power generation and the structural health of the marine technology of future marine power plants in Colombia, according to Juan Gabriel Rueda Bayona, a professor at Univalle's School of Natural Resources and Environmental Engineering (EIDENAR).
"Marine transient waves are like gusts of wind and are unexpected ocean phenomena that affect the dynamics of the water column," Rueda said.
Image: The study area was located in the Colombian Caribbean Sea, near the Magdalena River, the largest and most important river in Colombia. Credit: Rueda-Bayona et al. (https://doi.org/10.3390/w15152725)
The Research
In a paper called Hydrokinetic Energy and Transient Accelerations of Marine Currents in Colombian Nearshore Waters in the international scientific journal Water, the researchers found that marine transient waves have a short duration (hours) and their manifestation is not recurrent, as they are not associated with a defined temporal variability.
"As is the case with hurricanes, it is almost impossible to say where and when these phenomena occur, but we can indicate probability and high-risk zones," Professor Rueda said, adding that if researchers can better estimate the probability of these phenomena occurring, they can better plan the location of marine power plants.
Professor Rueda explains that transient waves also have a poorly understood role in the transport of nutrients in the water column, with implications for the marine food web and the fisheries sector.
Andrés Fernando Guzmán Guerrero, an associate professor, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the Universidad del Norte, and a co-author of the scientific paper explained that the dynamic behaviour evidenced should be taken into account to quantify energy efficiency, or consider the structural health of infrastructure subjected to dynamic loads.
"This study is a pioneer in showing the dynamic behaviour of waves in the Colombian Caribbean, which is the starting point for the technical structuring of exploration projects for offshore projects, whether for infrastructure (fixed or floating platforms) or energy use in general," Professor Guzman said.
Professor Guzman, who has known Professor Rueda for 10 years, explained that his contribution to the project consisted of reviewing the behaviour of the dynamic parameters analysed for waves and currents in the study area, and their impact on the design of offshore structures.
"In this type of study, the interaction between various disciplines is important to cover a whole spectrum of considerations to understand the physical phenomena present in coastal and oceanic areas," Prof. Guzman said.
|
Read more from the School of Environmental Engineering: Tidal energy could power the development of Colombia's Pacific Coast |
The Future
Professors Rueda and Guzmán said that the methodology applied in the research can be a reference for identifying marine transient waves in other regions of the world.
"The next step is to define strategies and design parameters, with factors adjusted to the marine environment of the Colombian Caribbean, an aspect and methodology that can be replicated in the Colombian Pacific or in other countries that are in the process of continuing their energy transition and take advantage of the great potential that exists in the oceans," Professor Guzman said.
Professor Rueda hoped that the project in the Caribbean could inspire other researchers.
"Hopefully this project can motivate other researchers in other parts of the world to look for these transient waves, understand them and generate knowledge about their nature and applicability," Rueda said.
If you are interested in contacting the researcher or learning more about the project, please write to the Communications Office Faculty of Engineering: comunicaingenieria(at)correounivalle.edu.co
Cover photo: Professor Juan Gabriel Rueda Bayona Credit: Andrew James/NCC-FI/Univalle
Comentarios
Publicar un comentario