TY - JOUR
TI - The Effects of Offshore Wind Farms on Hydrodynamics and Implications for Fishes
AU - van Berkel, J
AU - Burchard, H
AU - Christensen, A
AU - Mortensen, L
AU - Petersen, O
AU - Thomsen, F
T2 - Oceanography
AB - We review the state of knowledge about offshore wind farm (OWF) development-related effects on hydrodynamics and their possible secondary effects on fishes derived from European studies. Theoretical, modeling, and observational studies of OWF developments are relatively advanced and identify potential impacts resulting from OWF changes to local or regional hydrodynamics through modification of (1) the wind fields, and (2) oceanographic parameters including turbulence, mixing, and vertical stratification. While limited, studies discuss local OWF (i.e., within the OWF footprint) impacts on fishes due to sediment resuspension or sedimentation, temperature change, nutrient transport, and substrate availability. These studies largely neglect possible effects further afield and generally conclude that any hydrodynamic impact of OWFs on fishes cannot be distinguished when compared to natural variability. To further understanding of the cumulative risk from extensive OWF developments requires additional research on OWF-related spillover effects on surrounding ecosystems and on natural oceanographic connectivity. The use of dynamic habitat or agent-based models coupled with refined hydrodynamic models can help quantify the scale of spatial and temporal effects of hydrodynamic cues on the movement of fishes and their habitats, which is not currently possible via conventional modeling, quantitative analysis approaches, or field-based observational studies and surveys.This article is part of Oceanography's Special Issue on Understanding the Effects of Offshore Wind Energy Development on Fisheries.
DA - 2020/12//
PY - 2020
VL - 33
IS - 4
SP - 108
EP - 117
UR - https://tos.org/oceanography/article/the-effects-of-offshore-wind-farms-on-hydrodynamics-and-implications-for-fishes
DO - 10.5670/oceanog.2020.410
LA - English
KW - Wind Energy
KW - Fixed Offshore Wind
KW - Changes in Flow
KW - Physical Environment
KW - Sediment Transport
KW - Fish
ER -