2-D inner-shelf current observations from a single VHF WEllen RAdar (WERA) station

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Abstract

The majority of High Frequency (HF) radars used worldwide operate at medium to high frequencies (8 to 30 MHz) providing spatial resolutions ranging from 3 to 1.5 km and ranges from 150 to 50 km. This paper presents results from the deployment of a single Very High Frequency (VHF, 48 MHz) WEllen RAdar (WERA) radar with spatial resolution of 150 m and range 10-15 km, used in the nearshore off Cape Hatteras, NC, USA. It consisted of a linear array of 12 antennas operating in beam forming mode. Radial velocities were estimated from radar backscatter for a variety of wind and nearshore wave conditions. A methodology similar to that used for converting acoustically derived beam velocities to an orthogonal system is presented for obtaining 2-D current fields from a single station. The accuracy of the VHF radar-derived radial velocities is examined using a new statistical technique that evaluates the system over the range of measured velocities. The VHF radar velocities showed a bias of 3 to 7 cm/s over the experimental period explainable by the differences in radar penetration and in-situ measurement height. The 2-D current field shows good agreement with the in-situ measurements. Deviations and inaccuracies are well explained by the geometric dilution analysis.

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Publication type Conference Paper
Publication Subtype Conference Paper
Title 2-D inner-shelf current observations from a single VHF WEllen RAdar (WERA) station
ISBN 9781457700224
DOI 10.1109/CWTM.2011.5759525
Year Published 2011
Language English
Publisher IEEE
Contributing office(s) Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center
Description 9 p.
Larger Work Type Book
Larger Work Subtype Conference publication
Larger Work Title 2011 IEEE/OES/CWTM 10th working conference on current, waves and turbulence measurement, CWTM 2011
First page 57
Last page 65
Conference Title 2011 IEEE/OES/CWTM 10th Working Conference on Current, Waves and Turbulence Measurement, CWTM 2011
Conference Location Monterey, CA
Conference Date March 20-23, 2011
Country United States
State North Carolina
Other Geospatial Cape Hattaras
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