EurOCEAN 2000 - Vlaams Instituut voor de Zee

project has the objective to demonstrate the benefit of a combination of ground-based radar and
numerical models, in an operational service to Vessel Traffic Services.
The three years project has been started in September 1998. Further details of the project are
available via its homepage: http://ifmaxp1.ifm.uni-hamburg.de/EuroROSE/index.html
PROJECT METHODOLOGY
The EuroROSE tool consists of four basic elements:
1. The high frequency radar system (WERA) (Gurgel, and Antonischki, 1997), which
provides gridded coverage of wave spectra (Wyatt, 1997 and 1999) and currents (Essen et
al, 1999) over a range from 2 - 40 km off shore and a resolution between 0.5 - 2 km.
2. Navigational X-band radar system (WaMoS) (Reichert et al, 1998; Nieto Borge, et al,
1999), which provide near field wave spectra and surface current averages for significant
sub-areas (about 1 km) within a range from 0.5 - 10 km.
3. High-resolution numerical models (about 500 m) simulating and predicting waves,
currents and water levels (Roed, 1996) in an area of about 40x40 km 2 . These models are
combined with assimilation systems (Evensen, 1994) for the spatial radar sensed data to
improve their initial fields for the prediction of the following hours.
4. An interface, which presents the nowcast and forecast sea state information to the
operators in a user friendly way within real time.
The project is organised in 4 phases:
1. Set-up and preparation of the four basic EuroROSE elements.
2. Installation of real time data transfer utilities between the elements
3. Application of the full system in operational mode co-ordinated with the Vessel Traffic
Services in field experiments in Norway and Spain.
4. Validation of the data obtained during the field experiments and assessment of the added
value in terms of forecast skill obtained by combining the different data sources.
RESULTS FROM THE FEDJE EXPERIMENT
Phase 1 and 2 of the project have been finished and the first of the field experiments was
successfully carried out from February 15 th to March 31 st 2000. The target site was the VTS
Centre at the Fedje Island on the western coast of Norway, serving supertanker navigation to
and from two nearby crude oil terminals. Initial discussions with the VTS operators led to the
conclusion to focus mainly on current patterns and their variations at the ship entrance south of
the VTS station.
Fig. 1 shows a surface current field measured by the WERA HF-radar. Circles north and south
of the shipping channel between the islands of Fedje and Lyngoy mark the dual antenna sites.
The typical northward directed coastal currents as well as the outflow between the islands are
clearly visible. Fig. 2 gives an example of a wave map obtained from the same radar.
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