NDBC Wave Priority Letter

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PRIORITIES FOR NDBC PLATFORM AUGMENTATION

Submitted July 24, 2007

Southeast Coastal Ocean Observations Regional Association (SECOORA)

A regional directional wave observation program.

SECOORA recently elected a new Board of Directors and the timeline for this request will not facilitate thorough vetting through our Board; however, regional subject matter experts provided the baseline requirements as outlined in this document. SECOORA intends this to be a living document that will be updated as priorities and assets change. The locations provided were determined by regional input, balanced with the Regional Directional Waves/Sediment Transport Applications White Paper prepared by SEACOOS. The distribution reflects a perceived need for much better observations of directional wave spectra on the shelf and in the near shore. There is sparse sampling in deep water, a line of observations along the shelf break, another line at mid-shelf, and lastly a line of nearshore locations. The following matrices include “planned” (i.e. funded) subregional deployments and “proposed i.e. requested” NDBC/RCOOS deployments.

In identifying an organization with proposed deployments, we are promoting that NDBC take responsibility for the more offshore deployments and that the RCOOS be responsible for the more inshore deployments. Both sets are considered required locations in support of the National Waves Plan. Some deployments may be accomplished through deployment of new buoys while others may be achieved augment/upgrade existing assets per the “Existing Stations and Upgrade” request in the second matrix. An outstanding issue is funding for the system as a whole.

Planned and Proposed Regional Wave Requirements

Existing Stations with Upgrade Requirements per NDBC Request

Map of SECOORA Wave Requirements

A regional surface current mapping program.

The SECOORA region currently has 9 HF Radar installations (both CODAR and WERA). Existing HF radar sites listed north to south:

• North Carolina Outer Banks – 2 long range (5 MHz) CODAR –Duck and Buxton, NC (currents and minimal scale waves) – owned/operated by UNC Chapel Hill/NC COOS
• South Carolina – 1 existing long range WERA (8 MHz) deployment at Pritchards Island. Possible additional deployment of WERA system off Folly Beach, south of Charleston, – owned/operated by University of South Carolina.
• Georgia St Catherine’s Island – 1 existing long range (8 MHz) WERA. A second WERA system is being purchased by for installation at Jekyll Island, Ga – owned/operated by Skidaway Institute of Oceanography
• Florida – 2 existing medium range WERA (6 MHz) – two sites at Crandon Park, Key Biscayne and Key Largo – owned/operated by University of Miami
• West Florida Shelf – 3 long range (5 MHz) CODAR – Redington Beach, Naples (owned/operated by USF) and Venice (owned/operated by Rutgers)

Expansion of the existing network to provide full coverage over the entire SECOORA domain is desirable. Below is an idealized map showing an additional 22 long range sites and 5 additional medium range sites that would conceivably provide domain-wide coverage. The type of radar system to be employed at each site will need to be determined based on site logistics and available personnel support.

Proposed and Existing HF Radar Sites

SECOORA appreciates the opportunity to submit our requirements and clarify existing assets.