HF radar measurement of waves and winds

Results are presented to demonstrate the ability of the PISCES HF radar system to obtain wave-from significant waveheight to the full directional spectrum-and wind measurements to ranges of up to 150 km. The measurements were made during NURWEC2 (Netherlands, UK, Radar, Wavebuoy Experimental Comparison) and are compared with those from a WAVEC directional wave buoy and an anemometer. In the latter case the instrument was sited 100 km away from the radar measurement. The wave directional spectrum is obtained by an inversion of the integral equation relating the Doppler spectrum of the backscattered radar signal to the directional spectrum. Wind speed is obtained using inverse wind-wave modelling after removing contributions identified as swell from the directional spectrum. Wind direction, significant waveheight and mean period are obtained independently from the radar Doppler spectrum