High-Tech Saltwater Wave Flume (Saltwater Wave flume)

The high-tech saltwater wave flume, is integrated in the multidisciplinary marine and maritime research facility of Ghent University at Ostend Science Park (OSP). It bridges the gap between small-scale, artificial lab studies and complex, multidisciplinary, expensive field studies, bringing the ocean into the laboratory and engineering sustainable marine ecosystems for environmental and human health. This contrasts the majority of the wave flumes, which are often only focussed on maritime engineering disciplines and rarely bridge the gap to life science. This flume combines 3 crucial aspects: (1) using seawater instead of freshwater, allowing to work with marine organisms, (2) a removable false bottom to facilitate installation of sediment beds, vegetation models and coastal structures and (3) able to simulate the production of marine aerosols. The combination of producing high-quality waves and currents with the ability to perfectly mimic oceanic conditions is unique in Europe. This flume allows to tackle key interdisciplinary research topics in the field of 'Oceans and Human Health', such as combining sustainable aquaculture with habitat restoration, 'nature-based solutions' for coastal protection (e.g. biogenic reefs, seagrass vegetation, coastal dune functioning), the impact of metal corrosion and anti-fouling agents on environmental health and of marine aerosols on human health.