Monitoring Ocean Waves Using Coherent X-Band Radar: Surface Reconstruction and Short-Term Prediction

This study demonstrates the feasibility of using coherent X-band radar for wave field measurements and short-term predictions. The research focuses on three main objectives: reconstruction of the sea surface, propagation of the wave field using linear wave theory, and validating results through in situ measurements. Radar data were collected from the offshore research platform Forschungsplattform in Nord und Ostsee 3 (FINO-3) in the North Sea and compared with measurements from a collocated wave buoy. Ten datasets were analyzed, covering significant wave heights from 1.9 to 6.4 m. The method’s performance was assessed by deriving the probability density function (PDF) for prediction times of up to 20 wave periods and evaluating key metrics such as the correlation coefficient, nondimensional root mean square error (NDRMSE), and surface similarity parameter (SSP). The results showed a most probable correlation coefficient of 0.89 for surface reconstruction and at least 0.80 for predictions extending to ten peak wave periods. These findings highlight the effectiveness of coherent X-band radar in wave field monitoring and short-term prediction.