The Physical Oceanography Group of the University of Vigo (GOFUVI) has recently installed two high-frequency (HF) radar stations in the Ría de Vigo, in collaboration with the Marine Science Station of Toralla (ECIMAT) and the Port of Vigo. This system provides real-time surface current measurements in the Ría every 30 minutes, with a spatial resolution of approximately 300 meters. It is the first system in Spain capable of measuring currents at the scale of the Ría de Vigo. The HF radar was installed in 2010 and, after a testing period, is now fully operational.
This initiative will significantly enhance oceanographic observation capabilities by producing continuous, real-time maps of surface currents. These maps are highly valuable, not only for determining the trajectories of potential floating objects, but also, in combination with models and other meteorological data, are extremely important for forecasting and understanding coastal processes.
However, in a region so economically and socially connected to the sea, such as the Ría de Vigo area, the interest in HF radar is not limited to the scientific field; it is also a tool with great potential for sustainable coastal management. In this way, the data obtained can be used for monitoring and planning port activities (e.g., dredging), coastal engineering works (construction of breakwaters, etc.), management of marine ecosystems and fisheries (sediment transport, beach management, etc.), navigation support systems for both professional and recreational purposes, development and improvement of predictive models, and crisis management, such as those arising from marine spills or maritime rescue operations.
It is worth highlighting the public nature of these data, which will be distributed in real time via the Internet.
More information
Physical Oceanography Group, University of Vigo
Marine Science Station of Toralla
Toralla Island, s/n
Vigo 36331, Spain
Email: josegonzalez@uvigo.es
