Assessing HF radar data in the New York Harbor: Comparisons with wind, stream gauge and ocean model data sources

The Physical Oceanographic Real-Time System (PORTS) is operated in 26 regions of the United States including New York/New Jersey Harbor. This system provides observations and predictions of water level, currents, salinity and meteorological parameters that are used by mariners to safely navigate the coastal waters. HF radar surface current measurements are a new data product available in three of the regions. A study was conducted to analyze this new data stream to ensure that is suitable for PORTS. The NOAA Center for Operational Oceanographic Products and Services (CO-OPS) using data from the U.S. Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS) has recently released a new HF Radar Surface Currents web product which provides near real time surface current observations and tidal current predictions in estuarine and coastal locations. Two High Frequency radar systems are providing surface current measurements over Lower Bay, just outside New York Harbor. A year long record of surface currents was used to generate tidal harmonics for the region. These harmonics are used to generate surface tidal current predictions along the 1 km grid in Lower Bay. The tidal harmonics were calculated for 37 constituents and analyzed in detail the five major constituents for the region (M2, S2, N2, K1 and O1). The tidal components matched those of previous studies. HF radar is now available in NOAA PORTS and surface current predictions cover approximately 50% of the bay. The use of HF radar in NY/NJ PORTS as well as other IOOS assets will improve navigation in NY Harbor and lead to economic growth for the region.