A 3D PTV System for Measuring Small-Scale Ocean Turbulence in the Coastal Environment

Small-scale stirring of the density field by turbulent fluctuations is the fundamental process driving mixing in the ocean interior. Turbulence observations in the ocean have historically been limited by a lack of high-resolution, 3D-resolved velocity data. To bridge this gap, we developed a field-deployable 3D PTV system capable of measuring small-scale velocities in a 3D volume. We will discuss the design of the system and present both laboratory validation data and results from field deployments in Monterey Bay, CA.