COMPARISON BETWEEN HF RADAR MEASUREMENTS OF WAVES AND IN SITU MEASUREMENTS OFF CAPE HATTERAS

High frequency radars use electromagnetic waves to measure ocean surface parameters (sea surface currents, ocean wave height, ocean wave direction and ocean wave period) continuously and over a large area. While the measurements of sea surface currents are well established, surface wave measurements are still the subject of research. In this study, results from a very high frequency radar system are presented. The system was deployed on Cape Hatteras as part of the USGS Carolina Coastal Change Processes project in 2010. The data collected are compared with wave data collected using in situ sensors (ADCPs). The analysis presented is aimed at establishing the suitability and accuracy of VHF radars in terms of wave parameter measurements and its dependence on factors such as radar boresight, wave energy and ocean wave frequency.