Sea Surface Currents in the Equatorial Pacific from VHF Radar Backscatter Observations

Abstract

We present the analysis of three months of continuous sea-surface current data obtained by a VHF wind profiling radar at Christmas Island in the central equatorial Pacific. These results, which were obtained during the construction phase of the profiler when the antenna had not yet been phased to eliminate sea scatter, show a number of interesting features of the coastal flow, as well as the flow at greater distances from the island. We report here both the average surface current characteristics as well as features of the shorter-term variability. In addition, we discuss the idea that such sea-surface current measurements could be obtained quite easily in the central Pacific, provided that they were made in conjunction with existing and/or proposed profiler sites.