Today was a day with two faces. On the one hand we managed to succesfully complete the instrument array and to collect the first saltation data, on the other hand we were forced to evacuate the instrument storage container from the beach because of a substantial storm surge predicted for the days to come. At the end of low tide we had installed 8 complete groundwater wells from around mean sea level to the dunefoot and a pressure transducer near the low-tide line. Also, sand samples were collected to calibrate a surface-moisture probe and a test set-up of a SalDec system delivered - somewhat unexpectedly - the first saltation data! What a nice start to AEOLEX-II. But the whole day we also doubted whether we could leave the storage container on the beach. The doubts were taken away when M. Gul arrived on the beach with his heavy machinery to evacuate the container to a parking spot in Egmond. As a consequence, we also removed the 'permanent' sonic anemometer at the dune foot. A sad sight to see the container being taken away for a couple of days. The container was actually parked very close to the house where the MSc students are staying. They can still access the container so the measurements can continu. Very curious to know what tomorrow's storm will bring us!
AuthorGerben Ruessink is Professor of Coastal Morphodynamics at Utrecht University Archives
November 2017
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