Increasing the coverage of an island-based HF radar network

Abstract

High frequency (HF) radar networks are operated in different regions around the world for use in monitoring ocean surface currents and coastal wind dynamics. These networks are individually composed of multiple HF radar surface current monitoring systems, each installed at a different coastal research site. The data derived from these networks is used to study coastal currents, offshore wind, oil spill response, algal bloom movements, and also used by the United States Coast Guard (USCG) as part of their Search and Rescue Optimal Planning System (SAROPS). We describe here the HF radar network that is part of the Caribbean Coastal Ocean Observing System (CariCOOS). The existing HF radar network covers parts of the southern and western coast of Puerto Rico, and is currently managed and operated by the University of Puerto Rico Mayaguez (UPRM). Rutgers University Center for Ocean Observing Leadership (RUCOOL) has been collaborating with UPRM on the Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS) program “Advancing the Caribbean Ocean Observing System”. Increasing the coverage of the UPRM-CariCOOS HF radar network could be used to enhance the operational abilities of the USCG and other local and regional emergency response agencies.