High-Frequency Skywave Radar Measurements of Hurricane Anita
Joseph W. Maresca Jr. 1 and
Christopher T. Carlson 2
1 Senior oceanographer, with the Remote Measurements Laboratory of SRI International, Menlo Park, California 94025
2 Oceanographer with the Remote Measurements Laboratory of SRI International, Menlo Park, California 94025
We tracked and monitored hurricane Anita over a 5-day period by using the SRI-operated Wide Aperture Research Facility (WARF) high-frequency skywave radar. The WARF-derived positions for Anita agreed to within ± 19 kilometers of the coincident temporal positions along the National Hurricane Center's smooth track. Hurricane Anita passed near the open ocean-moored buoy EB-71 of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and measurements of wind direction, wind speed, and significant wave height made during this period at the WARF and in situ at the buoy showed agreement of 7°, 0.4 meter per second, and 0.5 meter, respectively. The WARF estimates of longshore coastal surface currents showed good agreement with measurements made at a moored current meter.
