HF Radar System-IOI-Malta Operational Centre

CALYPSO
HF Radar Monitoring System for the Malta Channel
Presented by Adam Gauci
on behalf of Aldo Drago (Project Leader)
Physical Oceanography Unit, IOI-Malta Operational Centre, University of Malta
aldo.drago@um.edu.mt
adam.gauci@um.edu.mt
AIS Ship Traffic Data
MEDESS4MS Project
The CALYPSO Project
 HF Radar Monitoring System and
Response against Marine Oil Spills
in the Malta Channel
 Two HF-Radars and combining
station on the Maltese Islands.
 One HF-Radar on the Southern
Coast of Sicily linked to the central
station.
 Measure 2D sea surface currents
and waves in the Malta Channel.
 The area of interest is about 95km
wide.
 13MHz CODAR system.
The CALYPSO Project
 The project brings together 4 partners from Malta:
 University of Malta (UOM)
 Transport Malta (TA)
 Civil Protection Malta (CPD)
 Armed Forces of Malta (AFM)
and 4 partners from Sicily:
 ARPA Sicilia
 IAMC-CNR Capo Granitola
 Università degli Studi di Palermo (UNIPA)
 Universita’ Di Catania (CUTGANA)
Radar Site Selection - Ta’ Barkat Malta
 In Malta, the radar is installed at Ta’ Barkat,
limits of Xghajra.
 Permission was obtained to place the equipment
within the premises of the Water Services
Corporation wastewater treatment plant.
Data Modem
MAC computer
Transmitter
Receiver
UPS
Electronics shed
Antenna
Radar Site Selection - Ta’ Barkat Malta
 The antenna is erected on the
plant’s outflow very close to the
coastline approximately 70m away
from where the equipment is housed.
 The mast is raised by about 2m to
achieved alongshore coverage and to
avoid surrounding terrain.
Radar Site Selection - Ta’ Sopu Gozo
 A site recognition field trip was done along the whole
northern coast of Gozo.
 The optimal place for the antenna was determined
to be about 80m west from Sopu Tower at Ta’ Sopu,
limits of Nadur.
 The electronics rack is placed within the Armed Forces of Malta barracks (PP4)
about 330m away from the mast.
Radar Site Selection - Ta’ Sopu Gozo
Radar Site Selection – Pozzallo Sicily
Porto di Pozzallo (RG)
Localizzazione HF
calypso
Malta
cantiere
dogana
Prime abitazioni
Coverage
Animation of Combined Radials
Coverage
Radials from
Pozzallo
Radials from
Sopu
Radials from
Barkat
Coverage
Radial coverage
map for Pozzallo
Radial coverage
map for Sopu
Radial coverage
map for Barkat
Spatial Coverage of the Total Currents Map
Coverage
 In addition to the normal
environmental noise observed by
all other SeaSonde systems in
the Med region, the Malta-Sicily
Channel can see an additional
external man-made
interference or noise source.
 This has an irregular temporal
pattern that reduces the system
performance at the time it occurs
(normally stronger in the
afternoon).
 The system is currently operating
with a 50 kHz sweep UP
configuration.
Data Validation - Drifters
Data Validation - ADCP
 Six ADCP measurements were made in two separate surveys between Malta and
Sicily.
 Regions in which radial data is available most of the time (>80%) were identified and six
points were determined.
Data Access - www.capemalta.net/calypso
Data Access - Access to Radar Data
Data Access - Public Interface
 The Public Interface is aimed for the general public. It provides plots and statistics for 9
different regions in the Malta-Sicily channel.
 Information from the
current and past 6 hours
is obtained from the radar
files. The forecasted conditions
for the next 6 hours are also
provided through the use of
the ROSARIO 64
marine forecast.
 Provided statistics include:
 Average current magnitude
and direction
 Minimum current magnitude
 Maximum current magnitude
 Maximum current magnitude
in the last six hours
 Maximum current magnitude
expected in the next six hours
Data Access - Drifters
Data Access - Professional Interface
Data Access - Professional Interface
Data Access - Professional Interface
CALYPSO
HF Radar Monitoring System for the Malta Channel
www.capemalta.net/calypso