The Operational Oceanography system in the Basque Country consists of
two main elements: an intensive ocean-observing network, together with
meteorological and oceanographic modeling tools. These elements are able
to provide, on a routine basis, the most precise description of the present
Sea State
as well as the forecasting of the ocean conditions. The Ocean Observing
System includes six
coastal meteorological platforms (operational since 2004) and two ocean-meteorological
buoys, operating since 2007.
In the general framework of a Coastal Oceanography
System in the Basque Country (Northeastern Spain), the
Directorate of Meteorology and Climate of the Basque
Country Government contracted to Qualitas Instruments
S.A. in 2008 the turnkey installations of a Long-Range
SeaSonde network. The main purpose is to improve the
real-time monitoring of the surface currents and waves in
the Bay of Biscay Area.
The coastal Long-Range SeaSonde
radar stations were installed during year 2008 and have
become operational at the beginning of 2009. The final
aim of the coastal radar system is the integration of the
radar data into the Operational Oceanography network in
this important marine region.
Click image to enlarge |
Distribution of the coastal and marine observing platforms of the Basque
Meteorological Office (Euskalmet). |
The utility of the coastal HF radars for the real time monitoring
of the oceanographic conditions will be of fundamental
importance in the framework of the Interregional European Project LOREA
(Littoral, Ocean and Rivers in Euskadi-
Aquitaine), which envisions a very ambitious real-time observing
system adapted for the study of the Marine Dynamics in the coastal
zone and its interactions with the littoral and the rivers. During
year
2009
studies of Quality Assurance and Quality Control (QA/QC) of
the HF radar data will be performed in order to incorporate these
data into operational tools developed in LOREA as local
applications of water quality, beach dynamics, and mitigation of
marine pollution (oil spill forecasting, etc.).
Click image to enlarge |
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Basque SeaSonde Configuration
The HF radar system in the Basque country consists of two Long-
Range SeaSonde Remote Units and a Central Management / Data
Combining Station. One radar unit is located in Cape Matxitxako,
and the second in Cape Higer, separated a distance of 80 Km. The
combine site computer is located in the town of Vitoria in the
headquarters of the Meteorological Basque service (Euskalmet).
Both radar stations work in a frequency centered at 4.86 MHz and a
bandwidth of 40 kHz, resulting in a radial resolution of 4 km and a
maximum range of ~200 Km.
Data Outputs
Each remote site communicates on line with the Central
Management Station via Broadband Wireless Access (WIMAX),
maintained and operated by the Basque Met office. The resulting
total surface vectors images are distributed in real time basis for
the
general public in the Meteorological Web: http://www.euskalmet.euskadi.net/s07-5853x/es/meteorologia/selsensorB.apl?e=5&COD_ESTACION=R097.
Distribution of the coastal and marine observing platforms of the
Basque Meteorological Office (Euskalmet).
T
Shown on preceding page is an example of the range and the spatial
coverage of radar measurements, as well as the kind of
oceanographic structures captured by the radar. Note the general cyclonic
structure of the surface circulation measured by
the radar system.
First Results: High waves in the big storm of 20-24 January 2009
During the days from 23rd to 25th of January 2009, a few days after
launch of the formal operation of the radar by the Basque
authorities, an anomalous deep atmospheric cyclone affected severely
the northern Iberian Peninsula. An abrupt surface air
pressure fall of more than 35 hPa was measured at a latitude corresponding
to northern Spain, causing winds speed of more
than 190 km/h measured at Matxitxako Cape. This resulted in a severe-storm
sea state with significant wave heights more
than 12 m. At this point, the radar HF station in Matxitxako measured
this significant wave height of 12 m, as can be seen in
above below. Note that the buoy at Matxitxaco Cape also observed this
maximum at around 06:00 of January 24th (not
shown). Even though the radar wave measurement is slightly below the
ocean buoy record, this is thus far the maximum
record for significant wave heights in the history of CODAR SeaSondes.
Click image to enlarge
CODAR wave measurements averaged over
a ring at 10 Km radius centered at
the Matxitxaco radar station.
Note the red curve showing a 12m significant height at 06:00
AM. |
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