Ocean Surface Currents

COCMP and CeNCOOS

In 2002, the Coastal Ocean Currents Monitoring Program (COCMP) began creating a California network of high-frequency radar (HFR) instruments to monitor coastal ocean surface currents in real-time and provide surface current forecasting capabilities as mandated by state funding propositions. Today, CeNCOOS works with COCMP to expand the HFR network in the region, obtain funds for operating costs and create and distribute products which address stakeholder needs. California State funding for the program ended after 2010, leaving CeNCOOS and SCCOOS funding (estimated at 1/3 of the funds needed) to try to maintain the HFR network. View a 2009 PDF booklet of HF Radar uses and station locations produced by CeNCOOS, SCCOOS and COCMP. HFR data products for the CeNCOOS region are available below.

CeNCOOS Region HF Radar / Surface Currents News

Recent News:

8/3/2011: Journal article titled "Japan Tsunami Current Flows Observed by HF Radars on Two Continents." The study demonstrates that HF Radar current velocity data from Japan and California can be used to detect the March 2011 Tsunami and tests the potential of HF Radar as a tsunami warning tool. See the Remote Sensing journal article

5/24/2011: West Coast HF Radar Network now largest in the world. Shore-based high-frequency radar (HFR) antennas measure ocean surface currents in real-time using radio waves. Antennas like the one in the photo (above) are in place from Washington State to the Mexico Border, creating the largest HFR network in the world (read the Scripps story).  The State of California and CeNCOOS were funding HFR in our region, but State funding ended this year, jeopardizing this great network.