National IOOS high frequency radar search and rescue project

Abstract

The U.S. Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS®) partners have begun an effort to extend the use of high frequency (HF) radar for U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) search and rescue operations to all U.S. coastal areas with HF radar coverage. This project builds on the success of an IOOS and USCG-supported regional USCG search and rescue product created by Applied Science Associates (ASA), Rutgers University and University of Connecticut for the mid-Atlantic region. We describe the regional product and the expanded national product's two main components: optimally-interpolated velocity fields and a predicted velocity field.