Measuring waves, currents and winds
First published 18 June, 2012
High frequency radars could be used to assist port and harbour management and coastal engineering as well as help to predict storm surges and associated coastal flooding.
The topic will be discussed in a talk which is being held this week (June 21) as part of James Cook University’s Faculty of Science & Engineering Public Lecture Series
This is the first year of the Public Lecture Series to be held in Townsville, which has been successfully run in Cairns for five years.
It showcases JCU’s research to the community and is designed to inform, educate and entertain residents about current science and engineering issues.
This Thursday (June 21) Professor Lucy Wyatt will present Using radar to measure the sea surface: Methods and applications at JCU’s Townsville campus.
Professor Wyatt is the Director of The Australian Coastal Ocean Radar Network (ACORN), within JCU’s Discipline of Environmental Sciences and Geography.
In her talk, Professor Lucy Wyatt said she would describe how HF (high frequency, 3-30MHz) radars can be used to provide measurements of waves, currents and winds on the ocean surface.
“I will be discussing potential applications of this technology such as port and harbour management, coastal engineering, storm surges and associated coastal flooding,” she said.
“This technology may also be used to assess coastal erosion or accretion and impacts of climate change, vessel traffic services, offshore oil and gas, resource assessment and monitoring for marine renewables, testing of and assimilation into operational models, leisure activities such as boating and even long distance swimming.”
Professor Wyatt said she would also show examples of data from the IMOS ACORN, based at JCU, and from other deployments across the world.
BIOGRAPHY
Professor Lucy Wyatt joined the School of Environmental Science at JCU in November 2011 to take up the Directorship of ACORN. She was previously in the School of Mathematics and Statistics at the University of Sheffield in the UK. She has been working on the oceanographic applications of HF radar for over 30 years.
Date: Thursday, 21st June 2012
Time: 5.30pm for a complimentary drink and nibbles, lecture starts at 6.00pm.
Place: Sir George Kneipp Auditorium, James Cook University, Townsville.
The Science and Engineering public lecture series will run monthly from March to November.
For more information, contact Kiara Cantamessa, Marketing & Events Assistant on (07) 4781 5179 or 0419 547 797
For interviews: Professor Lucy Wyatt Director, ACORN, tel: (07) 4781 6774 or email lucy.wyatt@jcu.edu.au
JCU Media contact: Caroline Kaurila (07) 4781 4586 or 0437 028 175