Recent technical innovations around HF radar technology and steps towards integrated national HF radar networks

HF Radar is a proven technology for ocean observing that has at present
more than 600 references in the world and which is since April 2016 in application
on all continents for the purpose of 2D surface currents and waves monitoring.
This has only been possible 44 years after its first implementation in 1972 in San
Clemente Island in California, thanks to the permanent evolution of the radar
technology with key achievements such as the present unique system compactness
and its capability to make a very efficient use of the radio spectrum. This paper firstly
presents some of the latest technical innovations around HF radar technology that
are making the technology even more reliable, accurate and useful such as the
new Automatic Antenna Pattern Generation solution based on AIS vessel positions
and the implementation of new added value trajectory models forced by HF Radar
surface currents able to accurately predict oil spill transport and movement of
particles on the sea or persons adrift. Secondly, we present current plans existing
in the Iberian Peninsula HF Radar network to integrate HF Radar technology as
an operational component of a national tsunami early warning system. Finally,
the advanced HF Radar system implemented by the Direction de la Météorologie
Nationale du Royaume du Maroc is presented; one of the latest deployed systems
and the first permanent system operating in Africa.