Project I.2.3: Surface radar - Plume radar

Project Name: I.2.3 Surface radar - Plume radar
Project Lead: Mike Kosro
Web: http://bragg.coas.oregonstate.edu

Project Description
An array of HF surface current mapping systems, 12MHz SeaSondes manufactured by CODAR Ocean Sensors, is being operated at the mouth of the Columbia River to produce a time-series of maps of surface circulation in the river outflow region.  The two elements which make up the array are located at Fort Stevens State Park and at Seaside, both in Oregon.  Cross-spectral data are measured over 10 minutes, and used to produce hourly averaged maps of surface radial currents to a range of about 40km.  Data from each site are transferred to OSU for processing into maps of 2D flow vectors.  Maps of daily averaged currents are posted to http://bragg.coas.oregonstate.edu and archived there, along with the digital data in ascii format.  Research on data quality and improvement is also ongoing.  Data are being used in comparisons with CMOP modeling products.

Fits in program
This program contributes to the SATURN endurance array for characterization of the river-to-ocean system through time-series measurement of circulation, its spatial gradients, and its variation over time.  As a long time-series, it is one of the data sets useful in detecting interannual variability (long-term variability).  It will also contribute to the modeling effort through model-data comparison.

Outcomes
Maps of surface currents, published daily on the web.