High Frequency Radar - Southern California Coastal Ocean Observing System
Original (non-English) name
Acronym
HF Radar - SCCOOS
Citation
Abstract
High Frequency (HF) Radar derived surface currents have provided critical support to maritime operations and water quality monitoring since 2005. Currents in the ocean are equivalent to winds in the atmosphere because they move things from one location to another. These currents carry nutrients as well as pollutants, so it is important to know the currents for ecological and economic reasons. The currents carry any floating object, which is why U.S. Coast Guard search and rescue operators use HF radar data to make critical decisions when rescuing disabled vessels and people stranded in the water. These radars can measure currents over a large region of the coastal ocean, from a few kilometers offshore up to about 200 km.