IMOS TURQ HF Radar: Real-Time Sea Water Velocity off Western Australia

Real-time sea water velocity data collected from 2012 onward by HF ocean radar stations along the Turquoise Coast of Western Australia. The Australian Ocean Data Network provides this dataset to monitor the Leeuwin Current system. Radars operate at 5.211 MHz with a maximum range of 200 km and a resolution of 3 km.

Use Cases

• Analyze variability of the Leeuwin Current and its response to the ENSO cycle based on real-time velocity measurements.
• Study Leeuwin Current eddies and their interaction with shelf waters based on HF radar coverage.
• Model the interaction between the Leeuwin Current, Capes Current, and coastal currents during summer based on spatial coverage.
• Investigate the influence of current meanders on Western Rock lobster recruitment ecology based on described ecological links.

Strengths

• Continuous monitoring of the shelf from Fremantle to Jurien Bay via overlapping TURQ and ROT radar systems.
• Radar system provides a maximum range of 200 km and a range resolution of 3 km.
• Data collection spans from at least 2012 onward, covering station upgrades and replacements.

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
• Data may reflect geographic bias inherent to the specific coastal region monitored.

Provenance

Source

Australian Ocean Data Network

Collection Method

Measured by HF ocean radar (SeaSonde crossed loop direction finding stations).

Time Range

From at least 2012 onward.

Freshness

Last updated 2026-05-06 03:01:01.777998; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Turquoise Coast shelf between Seabird and Jurien Bay, Western Australia.