Competitions of the Future: Oceanographer – Specialist in the process of creating and managing offshore wind farms

In the next installment of our series devoted to the professional future of offshore wind farms, we move deep into the seas and oceans, where the role of oceanographer becomes the key to understanding and effective use of the power of the sea. This specialist not only explores the deep sea secrets, but also analyses their impact on the Marine Wind Farms (IMF), ensuring that projects are optimised to develop solutions to minimise their environmental impact.

The importance of oceanography in the development of offshore wind farms

Oceanographer is an expert in oceans and seas, who analyses both their physical and chemical properties. His research focuses on the impact of water on climate and weather in both open ocean and coastal areas. Oceanographers explore various aspects of the environment – from ocean currents to tectonic plate movement to marine ecosystem and ocean bottom features.

An important area of research is also the analysis of the impact of Marine Wind Farms (IMFs) on the marine environment, especially fauna and potential changes in coastal zones. In order to explore this subject, scientists collect the necessary data, perform laboratory tests and use computer simulations. They aim to optimise the use of marine resources and minimise the impact of the IMF on the environment. The knowledge of oceanographers is invaluable when planning and implementing projects related to the sea, including when building offshore wind farms.

The activity of the oceanographer, based on American standards, is dependent on the choice of one of the four main oceanographic specialties.

Knowledge and activities of oceanographer: from biology to geology

Biological oceanographers specialize in fauna, flora and marine ecosystems with all their interactions with the marine environment. They search for marine organisms, recognize their abundance and distribution, the way they develop, relate to each other, adapt to the environment and interact with it. Research by these specialists helps determine how people can use the sea in their activities, for example in transport, in setting offshore installations including offshore elevators, so that their impact on marine life is minimal.

Chemical oceanographers focus on analysis of the chemical composition of ocean water, its biochemical cycle and interactions of seawater with ocean bottom and atmosphere. They study the impact of chemical composition of water on marine life and on various types of structures placed in the sea by man, such as IMF towers, ships, platforms, underwater pipes, cables and various materials, including concrete, steel, plastics and composites.

Read more: https://portalstoczowy.pl/professions-future-measuring-specialist-de-measuring-at-sea-wind farms/

One of the key aspects of their work is to monitor the impact of various risks on the chemical composition of seawater. They study the impact of sunk ammunition, various types of weapons, wrecks, fuel accumulations and other hazardous substances, as well as pollution resulting from human activities such as sea discharges and ship traffic. In particular, they shall analyse the risk of water and marine toxicity with toxic substances such as mercury, caesium, tritium, cadmium or carcinogens.

Their research plays a key role in identifying ocean resources with potential industrial applications. In addition, they are looking for methods to reduce ocean pollution and care for the cleanliness of waters.

Geological oceanographers focus on ocean bottom research. Using modern technologies, they analyze, recognize and map the shape and structure of the seabed and its underwater elements. These scientific works allow you to understand the structure, evolution and processes that shape formations such as canyons, mountains, valleys, islands, shallows or volcanic cones. This allows them to observe the movements of tectonic plates, wrecks, reefs, seismic activity, volcanic activity, and the impact of human activities on the ocean bottom.

Key specialisations in oceanography: biology, chemistry, geology and physics

Their research is crucial for human activities in maritime areas, particularly in the context of the extraction of raw materials from the seabed, the planning and implementation of offshore structures or the assessment of the impact of forces on IMF-type structures. Geological oceanographers also play an indispensable role in predicting seismic and volcanic activity. This knowledge is essential to predict and minimize the effects of earthquakes, tsunamis or volcanic eruptions, as well as to understand their relationship with the movement of tectonic plates or deep ocean ditches. When predicting the specificity of bottom formation, they can advise on choosing the best place to place structures such as offshore wind farms.

Physical oceanographers study and monitor physical conditions and processes occurring in the ocean. Among these are weathering processes, sound transmission in seawater, absorbance, permeability, electromagnetic wave reflection, including light visible through oceans and seas, electrical permeability of seawater, heat storage across the seas and oceans, seawaves, ocean currents, underwater rivers, sea whirlpools, tides and ocean drains, sand and ice transport, storms, land-producing and destructive processes, e.g. sand deposition on beaches and beyond, coastal erosion, and atmospheric and ocean interactions, etc., etc. By examining, understanding all these phenomena and processes these researchers predict their impact on the weather, climate, ocean interactions with its borders on the seabed and on the coast, ocean behaviour, including its impact on people, on human activities, human structures and structures, cities, plants, structures and submarine structures e.g. on artificial islands, artificial reefs, offshore wind farms towers, cables and offshore pipelines, ships.

The main tasks of the IMF oceanographer may be, for example:

1. Conducting measurements in the coastal zone: oceanographer collects data on physical, chemical, geological and biological conditions at planned farm construction sites such as depth, formation and structure of seabed, temperature and water pollution, speed of sea currents, marine species, etc. etc.
2. Numerical modelling of physical, chemical, biological and geological processes at sea: Using specialized software, the oceanographer can simulate different scenarios and predict, for example, how currents or waves, seabeds, species of fish and plants will behave, chemical composition of water in the area of the planned farm.
3. Gromadzenie, przetwarzanie i analiza danych o środowisku morskim i pracy samej budowli, konstrukcji morskiej, warunków funkcjonowania oraz interakcji ze środowiskiem. Zebrane dane są analizowane i interpretowane w kontekście potencjalnych skutków dla ekosystemu morskiego, morza, jego dna oraz samej farmy.

Dzięki wiedzy w zakresie oceanografii, specjalista jest w stanie wskazać optymalne miejsca do lokalizacji turbin wiatrowych oraz ocenić wpływ MFW na morze i środowisko morskie w tym wodę, organizmy morskie i dno morskie. Umiejętności te pozwalają mu również na efektywną współpracę z inżynierami, biologami, hydrologami, geologami oraz planistami przestrzennymi w celu zoptymalizowania projektów offshore wind.

The role of oceanographer in the planning and management of offshore wind farms

Przed rozpoczęciem budowy MFW to właśnie oceanograf dokonuje oceny potencjalnych lokalizacji. Analizując głębokość wód, struktury dna morskiego, prądów morskich czy ekosystemu morskiego decyduje, gdzie najlepiej postawić maszt z turbiną. Wykorzystując nowoczesne technologie, takie jak sonary, satelitarne systemy śledzenia, GSI, bazy danych, literaturę przedmiotu, bazy wiedzy, modelowanie, statystykę, analizy ryzyka itp. zbiera, analizuje, przetwarza, modeluje, kontroluje dane i procesy, które stają się fundamentem dla dalszych działań.

Read also: https://portalstoczowy.pl/professions-future-ornitologist-at-sea-wind farms/

Podczas budowy MFW, oceanograf nadal monitoruje warunki ich powstawania, sprawdzając, czy realizacja przebiega zgodnie z planem i jest dostosowywana do aktualnych uwarunkowań. Jego zdolność do przewidywania zmian stanu morza, środowiska morskiego, reagowania na nie w czasie rzeczywistym czyni go nieocenionym pomocnikiem inwestora. Jest zdolny do wskazania i interpretacji istotnych informacji, które mogą być decydujące dla projektu, strategii budowy lub wprowadzenia w nich zmian.

Po zakończeniu budowy farmy, oceanograf odpowiada za obserwację wpływu jej działalności na szeroko pojmowane środowisko morskie. Jest to kluczowe dla jej zrównoważonej i odpowiedzialnej eksploatacji. Oceanograf, kontynuując zbieranie i analizowanie danych, po uruchomieniu farmy wiatrowej, dostarcza cennych informacji na temat jej funkcjonowania oraz środowiska jej działania. Wskazuje również aspekty, które mogą wymagać optymalizacji czy dostosowania, zarówno pod względem technicznym, jak i ekologicznym.

Practical application of oceanographic knowledge in offshore wind farm projects

Oceanograf korzysta z nowoczesnych narzędzi i technologii, takich jak sonary, drony podwodne czy satelity, by gromadzić dokładne dane z obszaru planowanej farmy. Współpracuje także z innymi ekspertami, by zapewnić, że MFW jest nie tylko efektywna energetycznie, ale też bezpieczna dla środowiska.

W obliczu ciągłego rozwoju morskich technologii energetycznych oraz rosnącego zapotrzebowania na zieloną energię, rola oceanografa nabiera coraz większego znaczenia. To interdyscyplinarny zawód, który łączy w sobie pasje do nauki, technologii, ochrony środowiska, biologii, fizyki, geologii, chemii, genetyki, dając możliwość pracy zarówno na morzu, jak i w laboratorium. Dzięki ekspertom z dziedziny oceanografii możliwe jest projektowanie i realizowanie MFW w sposób zrównoważony i odpowiedzialny.

Written by Marcin Szywala