Assessment of WERA long-range HF-radar performance from the user's perspective

Since April 2006, long range (8.3MHz) WERA HF radars have been operated on the Southeastern United States coastline, as part of the U.S. Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS) and in particular the national HF Radar network. These radars measure currents operationally, and waves and winds experimentally across the wide continental shelf of Georgia (GA) and South Carolina (SC). Half-hourly data at 3km horizontal resolution are acquired to a range of approximately 200 km, providing measurements across the wide continental shelf and into the adjacent Gulf Stream at the shelf edge. Radar performance in range and quality is discussed. Ease in siting of these space and cable intensive systems along populated coastlines, and the feasibility of their operation by non-radar specialists is also briefly discussed.