Data Return Aspects of CODAR and WERA High-Frequency Radars in Mapping Currents

Two types of high-frequency (HF) radar systems, long-range CODAR SeaSonde and medium-range WERA, are concurrently operated on the West Florida Coast for the purpose of observing coastal ocean currents and waves. In this chapter, we examine the data return aspect of HF radar performance, using radial currents measured with the CODAR SeaSonde and WERA systems at the same site origin – Venice, Florida. Based on the data collected during February 2 – 5 March, 2014, our analysis revealed that the two HF radar systems exhibited complicated data return variations in both the spatial and temporal domains. Even though data return was generally higher near the site origin rather than in the outer band of the offshore radar footprint, it was unevenly distributed across the bearing angles. The long-range CODAR tended to have more data return in the northern half of its footprint, while the medium-range WERA’s data return was more evenly distributed across the bearing angles. Both radar systems exhibited diurnal and synoptic variations in data return; however, the peak performance hours differed. The 4.90 MHz CODAR system tended to have a higher data return during the daytime hours, while the 12.58 MHz WERA system tended to return more data during nighttime hours. The CODAR system exhibited increased data return performance during the conditions of high sea state, while the WERA system’s performance did not exhibit an obvious sea state relationship with waves measured using an offshore Waverider buoy.