Influences of Tides, Winds, and Bathymetry on Surface Transport Through a Complex Nearshore System: Measurements from GPS Drifters and an Uncrewed Aerial Vehicle

Abstract

Bathymetric features such as dredged channels, constricted-inlet basins, and nearshore islands have known influences on coastal transport, which are typically studied on an individual basis. However, their interactive effects on flow when found in the same area are poorly characterized. A multi-season study was conducted to characterize surface transport in and around Wood Island Harbor, in the southwestern Gulf of Maine, where these features all exist in close proximity. Patterns of surface transport were assessed with repeated series of Uncrewed Aerial Vehicle flights and deployments of GPS drifters across tidal conditions and winds typical to the area. Transport followed a major axis through the harbor, as a result of the combined effects of the linked inlet-channel system.