Effectiveness of a bistatic system on high frequency radar resiliency

A paper was presented at OCEANS '15 on a new way of increasing the resiliency of a High Frequency radar network through the use of bistatic measurements. This was modeled on the Mid Atlantic Regional Association Coastal Ocean Observing System (MARACOOS) High Frequency Radar network. The bistatic operating system is a recent feature of the SeaSonde HF radar. The bistatic capability is a viable way of increasing resiliency with out increasing the number of antennae. It involves the separation of the transmit and receive stations, as well as GPS timing to coordinate the time of the transmission signals. This results in a switch from a radial geometry and measurement to an elliptical geometry and measurement. This allows for higher percentage of overlapping coverage, which could potentially increase accuracy and resiliency. Using the configuration found through the previous models, bistatics were implemented along the MARACOOS network. Currently three radar stations are operating bistataically and generating elliptical current maps. They are stations located in North Wildwood (WOOD), Strathmere (RATH), and Brigantine (BRMR) New Jersey. The results have shown promise that the elliptical current measurements can become part of the operational data stream for the radar network. The bistatic systems are renamed using the first two letters of the four-letter station codes. For example the Strathmere-Brigantine bistatic system is called RABR. Initial findings suggest that the RABR is getting better coverage than the RAWO station. Using bistatics in RABR has widened the coverage area. Accuracy and coverage will be closely monitored during this time.