ROT HF Ocean Radar: Delayed Mode Wind and Surface Currents off Western Australia

The Rottnest Shelf HF ocean radar system measures surface currents and calculates wind direction and significant wave height in a region off Western Australia. The system consists of two WERA phased array radars operating at 8.512 MHz with a maximum range of 200 km, covering an area that includes Rottnest Island and the Perth Canyon. Data is provided by the Australian Ocean Data Network and was last updated in July 2026.

Use Cases

• Modeling surface current dynamics based on HF radar measurements mentioned in the description
• Analyzing wind patterns and their influence on oceanographic processes in the Perth Canyon region
• Studying the relationship between physical oceanography and marine biodiversity aggregations described for the area
• Monitoring coastal influences such as Swan River outflow and submarine groundwater discharges using radar-derived data

Strengths

• Radar system operates at a defined frequency of 8.512 MHz with a bandwidth of 33 KHz and a maximum range of 200 km
• System provides continuous monitoring of the shelf from Fremantle to Jurien Bay through overlap with the TURQ system
• Data collection enables calculation of wind direction and significant wave height in addition to surface currents

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download
• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment
• Last updated 2026-07-10 21:01:54.263266; freshness should be verified

Provenance

Source

Australian Ocean Data Network

Collection Method

Data collected by a WERA phased array HF ocean radar system with 16-element receive arrays at Fremantle and Guilderton.

Freshness

Last updated 2026-07-10 21:01:54.263266

Geography

Rottnest Shelf region off Western Australia, including Rottnest Island and the Perth Canyon, with coordinates provided for radar sites.