Scandinavian Ocean Radar Observing System

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The main objective of the project - Nordic network for high frequency (HF) coastal radar - is to establish a Nordic network for HF coastal radar in the Kattegat/Skagerrak region. Information on currents in near real time is seldom available when needed by many day to day applications and services. Data are needed for safe and efficient ship routing in narrow areas of high traffic such as in the northern Kattegat, Danish Straits, Bornholm Strait and the Gulf of Finland. At the entrances of major ports and where [environmentally] dangerous cargos are carried current information can be of crucial importance. For this reason the Swedish Maritime Administration maintains current observations in critical areas. However, these are point measurements and in the waters mentioned above topography may alter currents both in strength and direction in nearby areas. Hence, complementary spatial information on the behavior of currents is preferable. Access to high quality, spatially resolved current information is critical both for effective oil spill containment and greatly increases the chances for successful outcomes of search and rescue operations. Combining data from models and observations will reduce the search area in rescue operations and make planning and combat of oil spill operations more efficient. In addition, areal near real time current observations are likely to promote research and development related to fish larvae transports, the spread of alien species, improve oceanographic models and lead to the better understanding of ocean and coastal sea processes. Two of the main project activities are national and Nordic workshops where information, knowledge and experiences will be exchanged to establish national and Nordic networks. The coast in Sweden, Denmark and Norway will be examined to identify possible sites for coastal HF radar systems. Contact will be taken with suppliers to gather and put information together of different HF radar systems. The information will be used to create a requirement specification for coastal radar with technical demands defined. When establishing a Nordic cooperation for coastal radar in the Kattegatt/Skagerrak region conditions are created to build a Nordic strategy, jointly obtain radar systems and work for safe shipping and sustainable marine environment. We need exchange of information, knowledge and experiences across national borders.

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