Report on Best Practice in the implementation and use of new systems in JERICO-RI. Part 1: HF-radar systems & Part 2: Cabled coastal observatories. WP2, Deliverable 2.4. Version 1.0.

Abstract

Part 1: The main objective of this document is to offer a comprehensive “Best Practices” document by performing a compilation of the existing references and expanding the recommendations to ensure a broader approach to optimal operation of HF-radar systems with independence from manufacturer or antenna design and setup. Several guidelines and best practice documents have been widely used as a basis for elaboration of this report, as listed in Section 1. Authors of this deliverable acknowledge the contributions of Teresa G Updyle (Center for Coastal Physical Oceanography, Old Dominion University) and MARACOOS / IOOS. Part 2: The JERICO network is constantly working to improve its core functionality, which is the ability to provide comprehensive observations of Europe’s coastal seas and oceans. This means integrating new, promising observing technologies that can expand its spatial reach. While building the JERICO-NEXT project, cabled coastal observatories were identified as particularly attractive choices from this point of view, and a distinct task, Task 2.3 in Work Package 2 (WP2), was designed to facilitate their assimilation into the network’s established observing system. Cabled observatories offer the desirable advantage of freeing marine observing activity from the merciless restrictions of limiting power and constrained bandwidth for communication and data transfer, thereby allowing measurements to be made with a broad variety of sensors and systems even under extreme conditions (e.g., storm events, under ice, etc.). Seven such observatories are being operated by JERICO-NEXT partners, all of whom are participating in Task 2.3. Task 2.3 of JERICO-NEXT deals specifically with the harmonization of the observing systems within the JERICO infrastructure network. The present document, constituting Part 2 of Deliverable D2.4 dealing with cabled coastal observatories of the JERICO-NEXT project, gathers and reports on the outcomes of the workshops on Cabled Observatories (MS9 and MS13) that were planned within the task. The document provides an overview of best practices utilized during the planning and installation phases of cabled observatories, and reviews the main relevant operational aspects, applications, and data quality assessment and management issues. It builds on a previous JERICO-NEXT deliverable, specifically, D2.1: “Report on the status of HF-radar systems and cabled coastal observatories within the JERICO network” (http://www.jerico-ri.eu/download/jerico-next-deliverables/JERICO-NEXT-Deliverable-2.1.pdf), redacted by AZTI and UPC.