HF Ocean Radar

High-Frequency(HF) ocean radar transmits HF radio waves (3 to 30 MHz) to the sea surface from a land-based antenna. Surface current vectors, ocean wave spectra, and surface wind directions can be measured through frequency analysis of the backscattered echo from the ocean surface waves.

The HF ocean radar enables land-based labor-saving observations over a wide area in a short time; thus it is suitable for long-term observations.

Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of the Doppler spectrum obtained by the HF ocean radar. Ocean surface currents and wind directions can be derived from first-order echoes, and ocean wave spectrum can be estimated from second-order echoes.