NEW CALIBRATION METHOD APPLICABLE TO

SIGNIFICANT WAVE HEIGHTS OBTAINED BY X-BAND RADAR

Kyungmo Ahn (Handong Global University)

H. Chun (GeoSystem Research)
Se-Hyun Cheon (Seoul National University)
New Calibration Procedure of Wave Heights for X-band Marine Radar 1

Outline

1. Motivation of the Research

2. Wave measurement systems (X-band Marine Radar )

3. Calibration of Wave Heights for X-band Marine Radar

4. Conclusions
New Calibration Procedure of Wave Heights for X-band Marine Radar 2

Motivation of the Research

울산(WaMoSII)

제주(WAVEXI)

Waverider Buoy (Tri-Axys) lost X-band marine radar system (WaMos II)
New Calibration Procedure of Wave Heights for X-band Marine Radar 3

Comparison of Different Directional Wave Gages

Buoys P-u-v gage ADCP Radar

Accuracy high medium high high very low

Durability low medium high medium high very high

high low low very high

Initial Cost
($80,000) ($25,000) ($30,000) ($120,000)
Maintenance
high medium medium very low
Cost
distance from the
Water Depth 20~100 m < 20 m < 50 m
system
frequency &
Spectrum frequency frequency frequency
wave number

Currents No bottom currents current profile surface currents

Data
direct data link to shore data link to shore direct
transmission
New Calibration Procedure of Wave Heights for X-band Marine Radar 4

Time Series of Hs before Calibration

BUOY
RADAR SYSTEM

4
s
H[m
]

0
13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25
TIME [day]

Wave measurement system using X-band Marine Radar is a promising

next generation wave gage
If accuracy initial cost

3S-system has been developed

New Calibration Procedure of Wave Heights for X-band Marine Radar 5

Radar Wind Station

Datawell Buoy Hwagin Beach

New Calibration Procedure of Wave Heights for X-band Marine Radar 6

Location of waverider buoy and radar system in the Hwajin Beach

New Calibration Procedure of Wave Heights for X-band Marine Radar 7

Time series of measured Hs and wind velocity

BUOY & WAMOS TIME SERISE
4
BUOY
Hs [m]

2 WAMOS

0
13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25
TIME [day]
WIND VECTOR
WIND SPEED [m]

8
4
0
-4
13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25
TIME [day]
DIFFERENCES
DIFFERENCE [m]

-5
13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25
TIME [day]
New Calibration Procedure of Wave Heights for X-band Marine Radar 8

Bragg Resonance Condition

e
w 
2sin 
where
w  ripple wave length

e = electromagnetic wave wavelength

New Calibration Procedure of Wave Heights for X-band Marine Radar 9
Correlations between wave parameters
11 Observation Result 9 Observation Result
Linear Regression Nonlinear Regression
10.5 8.5 Linear Regression

10
8
9.5
7.5

T m [s ec ]
Tp [m]

9
7
8.5
6.5
8

7.5 6

7 5.5

6.5 5
6 6.5 7 7.5 8 8.5 9 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3
Tm [sec] Hs [m]

Correlation between Tp and Tm Correlation between Hs and Tm

Tm  0.8203Tp  0.2678 H S  0.8497Tm  4.997

H S  0.0076 e0.8657Tm
New Calibration Procedure of Wave Heights for X-band Marine Radar 10

Correlations between wave parameters

9 Observation Result
Nonlinear Regression
Correlation between Hs and Tm
8.5 Linear Regression

8
Linear relationship
7.5
T m [s ec ]

7 H s  0.6970 Tp  4.7695
6.5

6 Noninear relationship
(0.6657(0.8203Tp  0.2678))
H s  0.007568e
5.5

5
0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3
Hs [m]
New Calibration Procedure of Wave Heights for X-band Marine Radar 11

Theoretical background s(f)

JONSWAP SPECTRUM(u = 30m/s)

140
00km
←x = 2
True Wave
120
Spectrum

Underestimated
100 Wave Spectrum
SPECTRUM

80
fpf f f [ Hz]
m m

60

16

40 14

km
60 12
=
x
20 ← km
40 km

Tm[sec]
10
x
= 20
← =
x
←
8
0
0 0.05 0.1 0.15 0.2 0.25 0.3
6
FREQUENCY
4
Evolution of Spectra due to Fetch Distance
2
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 15
Hs[m]
New Calibration Procedure of Wave Heights for X-band Marine Radar 12

Time Series of Hs before Calibration

BUOY
4
RADAR SYSTEM
Hs [m]

0
13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25
TIME [day]

Time Series of Hs after Linear Calibration

BUOY
4 3S-SYSTEM
Hs [m]

0
13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25
TIME [day]

Time Series of Hs after Nonlinear Calibration

BUOY
4
3S-SYSTEM
Hs [m]

0
13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25
TIME [day]
New Calibration Procedure of Wave Heights for X-band Marine Radar 13

Conclusion

1. New calibration procedure is suggested based on the

measured peak frequency and mean frequency
2. New calibration procedure of significant wave heights for
X-band marine radar was shown to improve the
accuracy of the wave height estimation
Acknowledgement :
This study was performed by a project of ‘‘investigation of
large swell waves and rip currents and development of the
disaster response system (No. 20140057)’’ sponsored by
the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries.