Long-Term Coastal Observatory-High Frequency Radar Commissioning Process and Considerations

Abstract

Abstract High Frequency Radar (HFR) has gained world-wide use as a land based remote sensing technology capable of measuring ocean surface currents and ocean waves at ranges up to 200 km or more. Regional HFR networks support a variety of services including support for search and rescue, marine spill response, and resource management operations. HFR data is also applicable to validate and calibrate hydrodynamic models that are used to forecast storm-surge and combined flooding. Long-term time series data are also needed to assess changes in ocean/estuary currents in response to changes in climate, hydrology, and major coastal infrastructure. The main objective of this paper is to document the commissioning process for Coastal HFR networks to measure estuary currents in Galveston Bay and Sabine Lake Texas in Southeast Texas. The general process included several steps including: site selection, site access negotiation, permitting, station design, station commissioning, network operation and maintenance, and long-term resilience considerations, many of which also used data from remote sensing platforms. To some degree, these processes could be considered sequential, however in practice intermediate steps were essentially iterative in nature. Differing from a document focused on best practices for HFR deployment, this paper provides an overview of technical and administrative considerations involved in the establishment of long-term environmental observatories.