Group on Earth Observation, GEO
Global High Frequency (HF) Radar Network Component

Global Observing

Global HF Radar Assets

There are at least 300 HF radars deployed in many countries. Several countries have begun using HF radar-derived ocean currents for their operational oceanographic needs. 
Below is a static map image captured on 8 June, 2012. A dynamic, interactive HF Radar Asset map will be available soon.

Sign Up to participate in the Global HF Radar effort: global.hfr@noaa.gov

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Structure of the GEO Inaugural HF Radar Global Task

Co-Chairs

Enrique Alvarez-Fanjul (Spain), Jack Harlan (USA), Lucy Wyatt (Australia). 
A call was made for additional co-chairs at the 1st Ocean Radar Conference for Asia (ORCA), May 17-18, 2012

Anticipated Working Groups

Data Management

Applications and Success Stories

Best Practices in Deployment & Operation: Capacity Building

HF Radar Data Sources

U.S.A: US IOOS

National Data Buoy Center, NDBC

Scripps Coastal Observing Research and Development Center

Australia: IMOS - ACORN

Korea Observations from Busan | Observations from Yeosu

Uses of HF Radar Data

Coming soon: Succesful applications of HF radar (global scale)

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Meetings

GEO Global HF Radar Meeting at the MTS/IEEE Oceans '13 Conference
June 11, 2013, Bergen, Norway

The half-day GEO Global HF Radar meeting will focus on the three topics of the Working Groups plus Radio Frequency Sharing.
The working group names,  chairperson and chairperson's affiliation are:

A) Data Management (Lisa Hazard, Scripps  Institution of Oceanography, USA)

B) Applications and Success Stories (Hugh Roarty, Rutgers University, USA)

C) Best Practices in Deployment & Operation: Capacity Building  (Lucy Wyatt, James Cook University, Australia)

Radio Frequency Sharing

As many of you are aware, the World Radiocommunication Conference held in January-February 2012, made recommendations on frequency bands, bandwidths and sharing:
Outcomes of the 2012 World Radiocommunication Conference

As part of the next GEO Global HF radar meeting, we will devote time for presentations and discussion on the technical and regulatory aspects of frequency sharing so that radars do not mutually interfere.  I will volunteer to give the USA/Region-2 perspective and the techniques that we will employ.  Attendees are welcome to present the plans that are underway within the other two ITU regions.  As it stands today, the ITU is not going to establish a committee that will regulate or recommend any particular method for frequency sharing but will, instead, leave that  to each of the ITU regions.

This page will be updated as the Bergen meeting approaches.

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Key References

Resources and Documents

• A Plan to Meet the Nation’s Needs for Surface Current Mapping (pdf)
  
  
• GEO Blue Planet Task (pdf)
• Group on Earth Observations, GEO: About GEO and IOOS | GEO website
  
  
• GEO Inaugural HF Radar Global Task Meeting at Oceanology International Conference, March 13, 2012, London, England
  • Meeting Notes
  • Global High Frequency (HF) Radar Surface Current Mapping, GEO Task" (pdf) presentation by the Co-Chairs Jack Harlan, (USA), Lucy Wyatt (Australia), Enrique Alvarez-Fanjul (Spain)
• The 1st Ocean Radar Conference for Asia (ORCA) May 17-18, 2012
  • Global HF Radar – in the GEO Context (pdf) presentation by Zdenka Willis, Director, U.S. IOOS, NOAA Principal to USGEO, Chairman of GOOS Regional Alliances
    
• Korean Ocean Radar Forum (KORF)
  
  

Quality Assurance / Quality Control Methods

Coming soon.

Basic Siting Guidance

Coming soon.

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Global Observing

Surface Current velocities and direction presented on an HF radar map

Maps of ocean surface current velocities created from HF radar networks are helping to save lives, respond to oil spills, and monitor the coastal ecosystem in many regions of the world.  For example, surface current maps support coastal ocean search and rescue, depict trajectories of spilled oil, and reveal dispersal of buoyant larvae.  These are just a few of the specific applications of HF radar data presently employed.

There are at least 300 HF radars currently deployed in many countries.  Several countries have begun using HF radar-derived ocean currents for their operational oceanographic needs. 

Global HF Radar Network to Share Ocean Current Data

High Frequency (HF) Radar Antenna

The benefits of a global HF radar network include: 

• sharing important ocean current data among nations, and
• sharing information and expertise to foster the creation of new national HF radar networks and to enhance existing networks and training for personnel.

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