Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42236694›Full record

ArticleNature communications2026

Turbulence drives seabed modification by offshore windfarms.

Christopher A Unsworth, Connor J McCarron, Richard J S Whitehouse, Thomas D G Benson, Ignacio Barranco, Michael A Clare, James J Waggitt, Lisa Skein, Veerle A I Huvenne, Martin J Austin and 1 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Nature communications, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

11 authors.

Christopher A UnsworthSchool of Ocean Sciences, Bangor University, Menai Bridge, Isle of Anglesey, United Kingdom. christopher.unsworth@bangor.ac.uk.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8387-420X
Connor J McCarronCoasts and Oceans, HR Wallingford, Howbery Park, Wallingford, United Kingdom.
Richard J S WhitehouseCoasts and Oceans, HR Wallingford, Howbery Park, Wallingford, United Kingdom.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4270-6445
Thomas D G BensonCoasts and Oceans, HR Wallingford, Howbery Park, Wallingford, United Kingdom.
Ignacio BarrancoCoasts and Oceans, HR Wallingford, Howbery Park, Wallingford, United Kingdom.
Michael A ClareNational Oceanography Centre, Southampton, UK.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1448-3878
James J WaggittSchool of Ocean Sciences, Bangor University, Menai Bridge, Isle of Anglesey, United Kingdom.
Lisa SkeinNational Oceanography Centre, Southampton, UK.
Veerle A I HuvenneNational Oceanography Centre, Southampton, UK.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7135-6360
Martin J AustinSchool of Ocean Sciences, Bangor University, Menai Bridge, Isle of Anglesey, United Kingdom.
Katrien J J Van LandeghemSchool of Ocean Sciences, Bangor University, Menai Bridge, Isle of Anglesey, United Kingdom.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1040-9956

Funding

RCUK | Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) NE/X008886/1
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

The drive to cut carbon emissions and harness renewable energy has spurred rapid industrialization of the seas. Current estimates of seabed modification due to offshore windfarms (ca. 1% of a windfarm's area) do not account for enhanced seabed mobility due to monopile wakes. Here we demonstrate how turbulence emanating from windfarm infrastructure mobilizes seabed sediments. Whilst mean flow conditions in our laboratory experiment could mobilize fine sand, near-bed turbulence from monopile's wake could mobilize sand 17 monopile diameters (D) downstream. Related bedform formation coincided spatially with downwelling of the monopile's turbulent wake, indicating that the 3D wake flow structure both creates and defines enhanced sediment mobility. We introduce a method for predicting this region of enhanced transport capacity by combining bed shear stress from near-bed turbulence with that from mean flow; and our field evidence at an operational offshore windfarm validates this approach. Our results show bed stress amplification is expected cover 3-8% of a typical windfarm area. Enhanced seabed mobility can alter seabed habitats and should be factored into impact assessment and marine planning.

Identifiers

PMID42236694
PMCPMC13396209

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.