Offshore Wind Impact on Oceanographic Processes: North Carolina to New York - DHI

Report

Title: Offshore Wind Impact on Oceanographic Processes: North Carolina to New York - DHI

Author:

Johnson, T.; Simpson, E.; Bell, M.; van Berkel, J.; Petersen, O.; Hansen, F.; Hernandez, B.; Saw, Y.; Mortensen, L.; Snyder, D.; Thomsen, F.

Publication Date:

March 1, 2025

Document Number:

BOEM 2025-015

Pages:

646

Place Published:

Sterling, VA, USA

Affiliation

DHI Water & Environment, Inc.

Sponsoring Organization:

Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM)

Technology:

Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind

Stressor:

Changes in Flow, Habitat Change

Receptor:

Ecosystem Processes, Fish, Demersal Fish, Invertebrates, Physical Environment, Sediment Transport, Human Dimensions, Fisheries

Language:

English

Document Access

Website:

External Link

Attachment:

Access File

Citation

Johnson, T.; Simpson, E.; Bell, M.; van Berkel, J.; Petersen, O.; Hansen, F.; Hernandez, B.; Saw, Y.; Mortensen, L.; Snyder, D.; Thomsen, F. (2025). Offshore Wind Impact on Oceanographic Processes: North Carolina to New York - DHI (Report No. BOEM 2025-015). Report by DHI Water & Environment, Inc.. Report for Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM).

@techreport{Johnson-2025-2083214,
author = {Johnson, T and Simpson, E and Bell, M and van Berkel, J and Petersen, O and Hansen, F and Hernandez, B and Saw, Y and Mortensen, L and Snyder, D and Thomsen, F},
title = {Offshore Wind Impact on Oceanographic Processes: North Carolina to New York - DHI},
institution = {DHI Water & Environment, Inc.},
year = {2025},
month = {mar},
number = {BOEM 2025-015},
address = {Sterling, VA, USA},
url = {https://espis.boem.gov/final%20reports/BOEM_2025-015.pdf},
keywords = {Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind, Changes in Flow, Habitat Change, Ecosystem Processes, Fish, Demersal Fish, Invertebrates, Physical Environment, Sediment Transport, Human Dimensions, Fisheries},
}

Export Citation to BibTex

TY - RPRT
TI - Offshore Wind Impact on Oceanographic Processes: North Carolina to New York - DHI
AU - Johnson, T
AU - Simpson, E
AU - Bell, M
AU - van Berkel, J
AU - Petersen, O
AU - Hansen, F
AU - Hernandez, B
AU - Saw, Y
AU - Mortensen, L
AU - Snyder, D
AU - Thomsen, F
AB - Along the East Coast of the U.S., from Massachusetts to North Carolina, there are several planned areas for the development of offshore wind farms (OSW). OSW development has the potential to alter local and regional physical oceanic processes, via their influence on currents, mixing and waves from wind turbine generator (WTG) foundations and by extracting energy from the wind. These potential oceanic changes could alter the transport of fish and shellfish larvae and change the distribution and settlement of ecologically and commercially important species along the Atlantic Coast of the U.S. This study aims to firstly provide projections of potential changes to ocean hydrodynamics resulting from the development of the planned wind energy areas (WEAs), including current speed and direction, turbulence, waves, and bed shear stress. Secondly, agent-based modeling (ABM) is used to assess the possible resulting impacts on transport, dispersal, settlement patterns, and connectivity of Atlantic Sea Scallop, Surfclam, and Summer Flounder larvae. To achieve this, a regional integrated 3D hydrodynamic model (HDM) and ABM were developed of the Atlantic coast using MIKE Powered by DHI models.Technical Summary
CY - Sterling, VA, USA
DA - 2025/03//
PY - 2025
SP - 646
PB - DHI Water & Environment, Inc.
SN - BOEM 2025-015
UR - https://espis.boem.gov/final%20reports/BOEM_2025-015.pdf
LA - English
KW - Wind Energy
KW - Fixed Offshore Wind
KW - Changes in Flow
KW - Habitat Change
KW - Ecosystem Processes
KW - Fish
KW - Demersal Fish
KW - Invertebrates
KW - Physical Environment
KW - Sediment Transport
KW - Human Dimensions
KW - Fisheries
ER -

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Abstract

Along the East Coast of the U.S., from Massachusetts to North Carolina, there are several planned areas for the development of offshore wind farms (OSW). OSW development has the potential to alter local and regional physical oceanic processes, via their influence on currents, mixing and waves from wind turbine generator (WTG) foundations and by extracting energy from the wind. These potential oceanic changes could alter the transport of fish and shellfish larvae and change the distribution and settlement of ecologically and commercially important species along the Atlantic Coast of the U.S. This study aims to firstly provide projections of potential changes to ocean hydrodynamics resulting from the development of the planned wind energy areas (WEAs), including current speed and direction, turbulence, waves, and bed shear stress. Secondly, agent-based modeling (ABM) is used to assess the possible resulting impacts on transport, dispersal, settlement patterns, and connectivity of Atlantic Sea Scallop, Surfclam, and Summer Flounder larvae. To achieve this, a regional integrated 3D hydrodynamic model (HDM) and ABM were developed of the Atlantic coast using MIKE Powered by DHI models.

Technical Summary