Detection of meteorological fronts over the North Sea with Valensole skywave radar

The skywave radar located at Valeusole is described. The front localization method is reviewed and discussed. Wind direction was mapped over the North Sea during a three-day experiment. Thirty maps were collected and two cold fronts were successfully detected and tracked. Data corresponding to one front are presented, discussed, and compared to French Meteorological Office (FMO) surface charts. The measurements show that this front did not move with a constant velocity. Front detection is finally discussed in terms of spatial localization accuracy, resolution, and detectability.