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• Lipa, B
• Whelan, C
• Rector, B
• Nyden, B
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• Lipa, B
• Whelan, C
• Rector, B
• Nyden, B
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• Lipa, B
• Whelan, C
• Rector, B
• Nyden, B

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Remote Sens. 2009, 1(4), 1190-1211; doi:10.3390/rs1041190

Article

HF Radar Bistatic Measurement of Surface Current Velocities: Drifter Comparisons and Radar Consistency Checks

Belinda Lipa ^1,* , Chad Whelan ² , Bill Rector ²  and Bruce Nyden ²

¹ Codar Ocean Sensors, 125 La Sandra Way, Portola Valley, CA 94028, USA ² Codar Ocean Sensors, 1914 Plymouth Street, Mountain View, CA 94043, USA

* Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.

Received: 26 October 2009; in revised form: 5 November 2009 / Accepted: 27 November 2009 / Published: 1 December 2009

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ocean Remote Sensing)

Download PDF Full-Text [872 KB, uploaded 1 December 2009 08:54 CET]

Abstract: We describe the operation of a bistatic HF radar network and outline analysis methods for the derivation of the elliptical velocity components from the radar echo spectra. Bistatic operation is illustrated by application to a bistatic pair: Both remote systems receive backscattered echo, with one remote system in addition receiving bistatic echoes transmitted by the other. The pair produces elliptical velocity components in addition to two sets of radials. Results are compared with drifter measurements and checks performed on internal consistency in the radar results. We show that differences in drifter/radar current velocities are consistent with calculated radar data uncertainties. Elliptical and radial velocity components are demonstrated to be consistent within the data uncertainties. Inclusion of bistatic operation in radar networks can be expected to increase accuracy in derived current velocities and extend the coverage area.

Keywords: HF radar oceanography; current velocity measurement; remote sensing

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