The SC/GA High Frequency (HF) Radar project is collaborative effort between University of South Carolina and Skidaway Oceanographic Institution, funded in part by SEACOOS (SouthEast Atlantic Coastal Ocean Observing Systems). This project aims to increase the level of HF radar coverage along the southeast coast, to facilitate real-time ocean monitoring. To date, WERA oceanographic HF radar systems have been installed on Pritchards Island, SC and on St. Catherine's Island, GA. These systems are comprised of twelve receiver and four transmitter antennas positioned along the beach, and currently collect real-time measurements of surface currents, waves, and wind parameters. Their coverage zones extend 150 miles (240 kilometers) offshore, thereby encompassing the dynamics of the Gulf Stream.

For more background on HF radar, including principles of operation and applications, please visit our HF Radar page.

To learn more specifics about how the WERA HF radar system works, please visit WERA's homepage.

For more information about the SC / GA HF radar project, and other regional ocean observing systems, please visit SEACOOS's homepage.

View real-time WERA data here

	Installing the transmitter array: 4 antennas transmit an electromagnetic signal to the ocean. The orientation of the transmitter array determines the orientation of the coverage zone.
Rich Styles and Sven Rehder begin installation of the receiver array of the WERA system, which will consist of 12 antennas positioned in a line on the beach. These antennaes will receive the backscattered signal, which is used to calculate the Doppler velocity of the surface currents.
	Never read the instruction manual first!
WERA receiver antenna in the moonlight
	Central Processing Unit for the Pritchard's Island HF Radar system. Real-time data is received every 15 minutes from each station, and combined on the half hour to form 2-D vector maps of ocean surface currents.
HF Radar systems have low environmental impact: The strength of the WERA signal is less than that of a household light bulb. Additionally, there are no lights, whistles, or other noises associated with the radar and thus it will cause no disturbance to the wildlife at Pritchard's Island.