Remotely controlled CODAR continuously observed surface currents in the German Bay

An experiment to continuously measure surface currents in the Helgolander Bucht (German Bay) during two months in the winter 1987-8 is described. Modified CODAR radars were set up 45 km apart on the islands of Helgoland and Wangerooge. Both stations were remotely computer controlled while the data flow of the stations was made possible by telephone links to a Mikro VAX host computer. The CODARs were unmanned. The observed surface currents and wind recordings have been analysed. The Lagrangian motion of hypothetical water particles as a result of the observed currents was extracted, and from this (water) motion a movie was generated on a computer screen. The wind-induced and tidal components were determined.<>