Surface ocean velocities obtained by High Frequency (HF) radar stations located in Straits of Florida and Gulf of Mexico from 2019-12-28 to 2022-06-03 (NCEI Accession 0224983)

High Frequency (HF) Radar is a real-time ocean surface current mapping instrument with the intended purpose of observing surface currents over the horizon out to a range of about 200km. The radial velocity components, Eastward surface current (u) and Northward surface current (v) may be used for model assimilation and validation, and to better understand the evolution of the Loop Current System (LCS) in the Gulf of Mexico.

The Center for Ocean Observing Leadership at Rutgers University assembles raw HF radar data from UGOS HF radar operators. This data is post-processed from the radar cross spectra into radial ocean current data. Radial velocity files are presented in the Columnar Table Format (CTF) format which presents keyword descriptors as metadata preceded by percent signs (%) while the measured velocities and diagnostic data are reported in a tab-delimited format in separate tables. Radial currents were tested based on Version 1.0 of the Quality Assurance / Quality Control of Real Time Oceanographic Data (QARTOD) Manual for Real-Time Quality Control of High Frequency Radar Surface Current Data by U.S. Integrated Ocean Observing System (2016). New columns containing QARTOD flags are appended to the data tables. QARTOD QC radial files are then submitted on a semi-annual basis to NCEI. The QARTOD radial tests that have been applied are Syntax (Test 6), Max Threshold (Test 7), Valid Location (Test 8), Radial Count (Test 9), Spatial Median Filter (Test 10), and the Temporal Gradient (Test 12). A flag, PRIM, is included which is the highest flag value of executed QARTOD QC tests for each radial current velocity.