A comparison between SeaSonde and WERA HF radar current measurements

This paper presents a comparison of radial currents measured using a SeaSonde and a WERA HF radar on the West Coast of Australia. These radars are part of the Australian Coastal Ocean Radar Network which is a facility of the Australian Integrated Marine Observing system. Radial currents are the component of current along the radar look direction which is the measurement obtainable from an individual radar system. The two radars are sited 7km apart and the assumption is made that the radial currents from the two radars should be similar far enough away from these sites. The results, although preliminary, show that there is reasonable agreement at these distances. In addition the radial currents from both radars agree well with ADCP measurements at one of the ADCP sites. There is less agreement at the second ADCP site which is attributed to the more complex topography at that site.