Grant: Research Tools and Instruments

Due to the strong interactions between the high-frequency (HF, 3-30 MHz) signal and the gravitationally-induced ocean wave field, high frequency surface wave radar (HFSWR) has been an important tool for measuring sea surface current, wind and wave fields, and detecting hard targets (e.g., ships and icebergs) at distances of up to 100 km from the radar site. Real-time sea surface information collected by HFSWR is extremely critical in securing daily human marine activities (e.g., transportation, offshore oil & gas exploration). This NSERC RTI application seeks funding to purchase a 12-element phased-array HFSWR WERA (WavE RAdar) system from Helzel GmbH (a German radar supplier) to support ocean remote sensing research at the Radar Remote Sensing Lab (RRSL) at Memorial University of Newfoundland (MUN). The procurement of an HFSWR from Helzel GmbH will permit the following research associated with the NSERC DG programmes of the applicants: 1) research requiring the use of two monostatic HFSWRs to produce two-dimensional vector velocity information for ocean surface current, unambiguous wind, and directional wave parameters and spectra. 2) measurements obtained from a bistatic configuration in which the transmitter (TX) and receiver (RX) are not co-located to validate the fundamental bistatic radar cross sections of the ocean developed. 3) investigation into time-domain models for sea surface information extraction from both monostatic and bistatic HFSWRs. 4) validation of monostatic and bistatic models for the scattering of HFSWR signals at high sea states. The proposed system will be necessary, not only for the applicants' research initiatives, but for other users from industry and academia in their research and development efforts associated with ocean monitoring, search and rescue at sea, and physical oceanography. Acquiring the proposed system will significantly improve the overall quality of the new cross section models and inversion algorithms to be developed by enabling abundant experimental validation. Access to a bistatic HFSWR will facilitate the team's research that has the potential to bring major benefits in reducing the costs of directional ocean current, wind and wave measurements over large areas and to provide the basis for future theoretical work and development of HFSWR remote sensing products. This proposed HFSWR system will help create a world-leading equal, diverse and inclusive training environment to attract highly qualified personnel (HQP) and provide valuable theoretical and hands-on opportunities to them. The personnel trained during this research program will no doubt enhance Canada's R&D capability and expertise in ocean remote sensing, and will also contribute to other high-tech Canadian industries, such as communications and defence, via the transfer of their marketable skills.