Shore-based Current Meters

Shore-based current meters employ radio antennas and high frequency (HF) Radio Detecting and Ranging systems (radar) to measure surface ocean currents. Following the same premise of the ADCP, these shore-based instruments use the Doppler effect to determine when currents are moving toward or away from the shore. If a wind-driven current is moving toward the shore, the return signal is at a high frequency. If the wind-driven current is moving away from shore, the return signal is at a low frequency. Scientists also use these measurements to determine the velocity of the current. When two or more radar antennas are used, a scientist can calculate an entire field of surface current velocities for thousands of points. Using this data, the scientist can produce a “map” of surface currents for a large coastal area.

This antenna uses high frequency radar to measure the direction and speed of ocean surface currents.

This plot of ocean surface currents was created using shore-based high frequency Radar. Click on the image for a larger view.

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This page was imported from NOAA National Ocean Service. A lesson from NOAA's National Ocean Service tutorials; as a work of the United States government, in the public domain.

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