Towards Implementing the Operational Use of High Frequency Radar Wave Extraction

Wave parameters estimated from two direction-finding CODAR stations located on the west and southeast coasts of Puerto Rico were compared with model (SWAN) data and nearby buoy measurements. To test the performance of the radars and their limitations within an intricate wave environment, validations in significant wave height, wave period, and peak wave direction were assessed during the week of Hurricane Matthew in 2016. Advanced, post-processed filtering methods are introduced to limit outliers in the HFR wave records. Correlations of 0.69 and 0.7 were found between spatially-averaged HFR stations and nearby buoys. The correlation between the 5 MHz HFR and the SWAN model was much higher with respect to each range cell, peaking at 0.94. The RMSE ranged between 0.36-0.68 m off the west coast where significant wave heights were also lower. Challenges presented include the presence of bimodal peaks in the spectrum and nonhomogenous conditions within the HFR coverage area