ITU-R M.1874 PDF

Introduction

A significant percentage of the world's population lives within 50 miles of the coastline heightening the need for accurate, reliable and detailed measurements of coastal environmental variables.

Just as the winds in the atmosphere provide information about where and when weather systems occur, ocean currents determine the movement of oceanic events. These two dynamic flows are used to determine where pollutants, man-made or natural, will travel. Presently, ocean current measurements are not as readily available as winds.

Because of this, there is an increasing interest in the ability to accurately measure the currents and waves in coastal waters. Radar systems operating at frequencies higher than 50 MHz are limited in their ability to provide data meeting current range, accuracy and resolution requirements. The global oceanography community is planning for the implementation of coastal sea surface monitoring radar networks. The benefits to society for improved measurement of coastal currents and sea state include a better understanding of issues like coastal pollution, fisheries management, search and rescue, beach erosion, maritime navigation and sediment transport. Coastal radar measurements of the sea surface provide support to meteorological operations through the collection of sea state and dominant ocean wave data. In addition, oceanographic radar technology has applications in global maritime domain awareness by allowing the long range sensing of surface vessels. This will benefit the global safety and security of shipping and ports².

The need for additional data to mitigate the effects of disasters, including tsunamis, to understand climate change, and to ensure safe maritime travel has lead to the consideration of operational use of oceanographic radar networks on a global basis.

² Use of Coastal Ocean Dynamics Application Radar (CODAR) Technology in the United States of America Coast Guard Search and Rescue Planning, David Ullman; James O'Donnell; Christopher Edwards; Todd Fake; David Morschauser; Coast Guard Research and Development Center Groton CT.