First long-range CODAR in Canada - update

Release Date: 23 May 2007

On 23 January, 2004, a team led by the University of Maine's Physical Oceanography Group installed and activated Canada's first long-range CODAR SeaSonde™ HF radar at Cape St. Mary's, Nova Scotia. Three years and four months later, the system continues to operate remotely and has become a recognized source of synoptic surface current data for waters of Southwest Nova Scotia and the Gulf of Maine.

CODAR's long-range radar signal travels beyond the horizon, thus the St. Mary's radar site often observes currents 200 km from its shore-based location. This range permits excellent networking of this CODAR SeaSonde with other CODAR SeaSondes located in Maine and belonging to the Gulf of Maine Ocean Observing System (GoMOOS).

The installation was led by Karl Schlenker and Rob Bell of the University of Maine and included assistance from Hugh Roarty ( Rutgers University ), Chad Whelan (CODAR Ocean Sensors) and Brian Whitehouse (OEA Technologies). Real-time and archived current data produced by the St. Mary's CODAR and other GoMOOS CODAR SeaSondes can be accessed either through GoMOOS or the University of Maine.