AMBIENT HYDRODYNAMIC FLOW FIELD ASSOCIATED 

 WITH THE TEKTITE II HABITAT 



Dr. William L. Wood 



Department of Natural Science 



Michigan State University 



ABSTRACT 



Extended use of habitats precludes their placement in hydrodynamically 

 active areas. Although the TEKTITE II habitat was located in a 

 relatively quiescent area, preliminary measurements of the hydrodjmamic 

 regime around the TEKTITE II habitat indicated potential effects of 

 habitat-flow field interactions. The utilization of underwater 

 photography of small scale dye releases was an efficient method of 

 monitoring the flow field around the habitat. The most important 

 recommendation arising from this study is that similar measurements 

 must be made on habitats placed in more hydrodynamically active areas 

 to insure both the safety of the habitat personnel and the reliability 

 of data collected in the vicinity of the habitat. 



The primary objective of this investigation was to measure and evaluate the 

 fluid flow characteristics associated with the TEKTITE II habitat. Although 

 this problem involves both the effect of the fluid on the habitat and the 

 reciprocal effect of the habitat on the ambient flow field, this study 

 focused primarily on the later interaction. 



The rationale behind this investigation is that the interpretation of data 

 collected in the vicinity of a habitat is dependent upon the hydrodynamics 

 of the observing and collecting area. Specifically the distribution and 

 variation of bottom sediments, the micro and macro faunal distributions, and 

 the physical exertion of the habitat personnel outside the habitat are all 

 dependent upon the flow regime. 



A secondary objective of this investigation was to evaluate the effectiveness 

 of underwater photography of subsurface dye releases for tracing fluid flow. 

 The development of underwater photographic dye monitoring would provide a 

 direct method of observing subsurface current patterns, diffusion, and micro- 

 turbulent flow structure. The development of this technique coupled with the 

 subsurface excursion time available through the use of habitats would provide 

 an extremely valuable method for studying subsurface fluid flow fields. In 

 order to optimize these techniques, aerial photographs of nearsurface dye 

 releases were taken synchronously with subsurface photographs. The anticipated 

 results from this portion of the study should provide information on three 

 dimensional diffusion of coastal water masses. 



VII-48 



