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COOL News

Long-range CODAR Gears Up for Next Summer -- Nov. 10, 2000
Boaters, Sailors and Fisherman have long desired real-time maps of the ocean's currents. Here in the COOLroom, we have been able to provide this information between the Coasts of Brigantine and Brant Beach, NJ for over two years. However, large scale maps of this information have only recently become possible.

In June of this year, a new Long-range CODAR antenna was setup on Long Beach Island. This antenna is part of our new network of long-range coastal radars that will encompass the entire coast of New Jersey, the first large-scale system for measuring coastal ocean currents in the world.

We hope to be able to obtain ocean surface currents within a range of about 150km from the coast. Essentially, from the continental shelf, all the way up to the beaches, and from Montock Point, NY to the Deleware Bay. In addition to Currents, this system will also provide wave information for each beach where an antenna stands. Seven in all.

While one antenna alone is not enough to obtain current data (see the CODAR Tutorial), we are planning to install an additional antenna in November of 2000, and two more in the Spring of 2001. As soon as the second antenna is installed, we will have surface currents for the Southern New Jersey coast. This pair of antennas will be the first operational Long-range CODAR system of its kind in the country.

Come the Summer of 2001, we hope to have the complete network up and running. Just in time for the summer season, theCOOLroom.org will have ocean current and wave data for virtually the entire coast of New Jersey.