Tracking and Monitoring Hurricanes by HF Skywave Radar Over the Gulf of Mexico.
Abstract
This report describes the results of a study to evaluate the effectiveness of a high-frequency (HF) skywave radar used to determine (1) the track of a hurricane, and (2) hurricane wind velocity and wave height throughout all regions of a storm. Experimental data were collected using the SRI-operated Wide Aperture Research Facility (WARF) located in central California. The WARF radar is a high-resolution skywave radar capable of forming a 0.5 deg beam at 15 MHz. HF skywave radar sea-echo Doppler spectra were recorded for six hurricanes/tropical storms in the Gulf of Mexico and Pacific Ocean between 1975 and 1978. Both day and night measurements were made, as well as one- and two-ionospheric-hop measurements ranging out from 2800 to 4000 km. Surface wind direction maps were computed for all 6 tropical storms. In situ measurements were available for two storms for comparison to the WARF radar wind maps. The radar-derived wind directions coincident in time and space with National Data Buoy Office moored buoys showed agreement to within 10 deg. The center of the hurricane was estimated from each WARF wind map and was compared to the official track compiled by the National Hurricane Center (NHC). The mean difference between the WARF radar positions and the interpolated positions along the NHC track was 19 km for Hurricane Anita 1977.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Nov 01, 1978
- Accession Number
- ADA064972
Entities
People
- Christopher T. Carlson
- Joseph W. Maresca Jr.
Organizations
- SRI International