SINTEF performing ocean current measurements offshore Nigeria

The oceanography activity of SINTEF has become a part of the Marine Environmental Technology from 1 October 2004. The activity was earlier organised within SINTEF Fisheries and Aquaculture. Addressing almost the same market area, it was decided that the Marine Environmental Technology would be a better arena for the oceanography activity. It is therefore a pleasure for us to offer our customers measurements, analyses, modelling and reputable expertise also within physical oceanography.

Oceanographic data acquisition and analysis
Data acquisition programmes are carried out to establish physical environment data bases for regulatory applications, short and long-term predictions of the ocean climate, risk assessments and for the design and operation of ships and offshore installations. Over the last two decades SINTEF’s oceanographers have observed the ocean climate worldwide, ranging from tropical to arctic waters.

State-of-the-art instrumentation is used for oceanographic data collection, including: 
• Acoustic Doppler Current Profilers (ADCP)
• Aquadopps
• RCM-7, 8 and 9
• Directional wave buoys
• Waveriders
• Wave and Tide recorders
• High precision CTD profilers
• Weather stations

Modelling sea surface salinity (above) and temperature (below) of the west coast of Norway (SinMod)

Ocean Mapping and Analyses
An array of custom-made time series analysis packages, statistical analysis packages and related programs are available:
• Extreme value analysis
• Duration analysis
• Harmonic analysis
• Wave analysis

Numerical models
We possess numerical models to cover most needs within ocean and coastal engineering, including shallow water wave transformation models, 3-D baroclinic current models and 3-D (turbulent) wind models. The models are expanded with modules that cover engineering applications such as spreading and dilution of effluent discharge, wave agitation, dredging and reclamation, erosion and sediment transport.

GeoSim is a complete 3 D baroclinic current model developed to study ocean currents and transport of matter in the coastal area. GeoSim is based on finite elements well suited for complex topography as the Norwegian coast and fjords. GeoSim includes all driving forces for ocean currents as wind, tides and pressure gradients. The model also includes all steering agents as topography, stratification, friction and the earth’s rotation.
Another SINTEF-developed 3-D current model is the hydrostatic pressure, finite difference model SinMod. It solves the Reynolds averaged Navier-Stokes equations and transport equations for salt and temperature. The turbulence closure is algebraic, with stratification effects on the vertical dispersion. SinMod is well suited for more global simulations of the ocean circulation.

For further information contact:
Grim Eidnes

Modelling river discharge and estuarine circulation (GeoSim)	Modelling the flow through a sound, and the impact of jetties, with the finite element model GeoSim