Coastal processes
Coastal processes refer to the physical factors that can influence the natural changes occurring along our coast. Influencing factors include the action of waves, tides and currents in causing coastal erosion, transport of suspended material (such as sand) and the redeposit of such sediments.
During the EIA process, research was conducted to allow a detailed assessment of the interaction of coastal processes with the wind farm, during both construction and operation. Part of this research involved conducting a measurement campaign using buoys and seabed devices to measure the waves, tides and suspended sediments levels (see photographs below).
Results of the Surveys
An assessment of the impact of the wind farm on hydrodynamics and geomorphology looked at the changes that the wind farm and cable route would have on the local waves, currents, sediment transport regime and features of the seabed.
The project could have some localised impact in the immediate vicinity of the wind farm site such as localised erosion or scour around the base of the foundations but no significant impacts further afield. The design of the foundation structures would take account of any scour and may include rock placement as protection against erosion. Overall, changes caused by the structures are likely to be less than those experienced due to natural variation and are therefore of negligible significance.
It has also been shown by numerical modelling that increases in suspended sediment levels due to the cable laying process are small, localised and short lived.
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