Surface Current Coverage of the Mid Atlantic United States

Remote sensing technologies provide data across a large geographic area without the cost associated with in situ observations. Sensor placement is critical in maximizing the effectiveness of an organization's remote sensing strategy. While technical specifications of oceanographic sensors are easy to compare, the coverage and performance of a remote sensing network when applied to a specific location can be more challenging. The complex coastal and estuarine environment of the Mid Atlantic United States is constantly changing and remote sensing is an effective tool for measuring these changing waters. Accurately assessing the coverage that a remote sensing network delivers will provide justification for future investments and sensor placement. This paper provides a method for calculating the marine surface area of the Mid Atlantic and how it relates to the coverage of the High Frequency radar network. This method can be applied globally to evaluate observing network design and implementation.