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 Wednesday, November 3, 2010 Scripps Institution of Oceanography Works With BP to Monitor the Gulf of Mexico Scripps deploys surface current mapping radar on BP platform Atlantis in the Gulf of Mexico Scripps Institution of Oceanography / University of California, San Diego Researchers at Scripps Institution of Oceanography, UC San Diego are now successfully receiving data from a surface current mapping radar on the BP-operated oil platform Atlantis in the Gulf of Mexico.The system, installed in August, provides radial maps of ocean currents to distances of 80 kilometers (50 miles) on resolutions of two to 3 kilometers (1.2 to 1.9 miles). A primary objective is to use the radar data to identify and map in near real-time the loop current and eddies in the Gulf; the data are also being used to constrain dynamical and statistical models of ocean circulation.  HF radar installed by Scripps Institution of Oceanography on BP's platform Atlantis in the Gulf of Mexico. The radar allows users to track ocean surface currents in near real-time via the Internet. Deployment of such radars on oil rigs had presented a special challenge to researchers; the substantial amounts of metal in their structure can interfere with transmission of the radars' radio signals. For the installation on Atlantis, Scripps worked with radar manufacturer Codar Ocean Sensors in the testing and evaluation of a compact antenna system expressly built for deployment in confined operating areas like operational oil platforms. "This installation will allow us to learn how best to deploy and operate an HF radar system on an oil platform for monitoring ocean currents," said Scripps Oceanography researcher Eric Terrill, whose team operates the radar. "The research is enabling expansion of shore-based technologies to offshore waters, which in light of recent events in the Gulf of Mexico, will play a role in stewardship of our oceans." The Scripps team has worked with other teams nationally in the installation and maintenance of a fully operational system of HF radars that maps currents day and night, including in fog or when conditions don't allow for direct observation. Scripps also designed and implemented a national data system for NOAA to allow for continuous access to near real-time currents via the Internet. The system is part of a national network of HF radars facilitated by NOAA's Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS).  Image of surface currents created by a radial survey performed with high-frequency radar operated by Scripps Oceanography researchers. The radar unit is mounted on BP oil rig Atlantis in the Gulf of Mexico. Photo: SCCOOS BP provides funding for engineering and deployment of the Atlantis radar through an ongoing Scripps-BP research collaboration. In 2004, Scripps and BP entered into a long-term collaboration to work on scientific and technical problems of common interest. The partnership enables Scripps to pioneer new technological development that is difficult to fund through federal agencies. The innovative instrumentation and technologies developed and used in this program are useful for academic research and ocean observing programs, and contribute to the capabilities and efficiencies of BP operations and the country's national capabilities to monitor and protect its coastal waters. The collaboration over the past few years has focused primarily on improving our capability to measure and forecast ocean waves and currents in the Gulf of Mexico. Deployment of a second radar system on BP's platform Holstein is planned in early 2011. # # # Note to broadcast and cable producers: University of California, San Diego provides an on-campus satellite uplink facility for live or pre-recorded television interviews. Please phone or e-mail the media contact listed above to arrange an interview. Scripps Institution of Oceanography, at University of California, San Diego, is one of the oldest, largest and most important centers for global science research and education in the world. Now in its second century of discovery, the scientific scope of the institution has grown to include biological, physical, chemical, geological, geophysical and atmospheric studies of the earth as a system. Hundreds of research programs covering a wide range of scientific areas are under way today in 65 countries. The institution has a staff of about 1,300, and annual expenditures of approximately $155 million from federal, state and private sources. Scripps operates one of the largest U.S. academic fleets with four oceanographic research ships and one research platform for worldwide exploration.
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