CONRAD BLUCHER INSTITUTE ACTIVITIES SUPPORTING

TEXAS PORTS AND WATERWAYS OPERATIONS

Two Inter-related Services to the Port Community:

1. The Texas Coastal Ocean Observation Network (TCOON) is a state-of–the-art water-level measurement system with over 50 stations along the Texas Coast.

2. Water level forecasting based on Neural Network techniques, that account for the influence of local wind conditions, for select locations along the Texas Coast.

High Frequency (HF) Radar

Solar PanelsWind Speed & Direction

Electronics Enclosure

Acoustic Coppler Current Profiler (ADCP)With Directional Wave Measurments

Platform Landing

Helicopter Pad

Port of Corpus ChristiOffshore Generic PlatformWaves and Currents

Key Features

Located 3- and 15-nmi. from Port Aransas in Gulf Of Mexico on NWS Platforms

Communications by FreeWave Radio

Dial-up Voice Report for Pilots Data Availability and Management Through CBI Website

Wave Climate Monitoring System

A comprehensive network of observation platforms and data collection activities designed to provide real-time information on key parameters associated with coastal water quality and ecological health.

Components Making SenSE a Powerful Environmental Tool

Real Time Spatial and Temporal Monitoring

Very High Frequency

Mobile, Roving and Stationary Observation Stations

Biogeochemical Processes

Ecosystem Integrity

Now Casting and Forecasting

Comparison between measured water levels, tidal chart forecasts, and 24 hour neural network forecasts for Galveston Pleasure Pier. The accuracy of the 24 hour neural network forecast shows the ability to predict the timing and the intensity of frontal passages.

Neural Network ForecastsMeasured water levelTidal forecast charts

Neural Net Forecasting as Compared to Observed and Tide Charts

Data Available via Dial-up Voice Report and Online Wind Speed and Direction at 21 m and 10 m

Air Temperature

Barometric Pressure

Wave Height, Period, and Direction

Water Temperature

Two observation platforms located in the Gulf

of Mexico near Port Aransas measure wave

characteristics and other key environmental

parameters. The two multi-instrumented

observation stations serve as prototypes for

future platforms planned for the Texas Coast.

WATER LEVELWATER LEVEL WAVES and CURRENTSWAVES and CURRENTS ENVIRONMENTALENVIRONMENTAL

“FlowCam”Total Suspended Solids

Algal Blooms

ADCPWaves and Currents

“Flashlamp” FluorometerChlorophyll-a

andHydrocarbons

LISST-100Submersible Particle Distribution

Hydrocarbon Detection

Instrumentation and Key Parameters

Corpus Christi Bay Current Vectors for Southeasterly Wind Conditions

CBI’s Mobile HF Radar Technology is capable of determining

water circulation patterns and wave height/direction/period

within targeted water bodies along the Texas Coast.

Vector Plot for Gulf of Mexico

East of Galveston Island

HF Radar

Applications Navigation/ Port Management

Oil Spill/Contaminant Response

Dredge Analysis: Hydrodynamic Models

Ecological Models

Comparison of USF ADCP Buoy (EC4) vs. Nearest

HF-Radar Gridpoint (0.3 nmi.)

Mobile HF Radar UnitAt Corpus Christi

Beach

Wind Speed/DirectionSolar Panels

Platform Landing

HF Radar Data

EC4 Data

N

N

Proposed Future Extent ofHF Radar Coverage

Gulf ofMexico

Gulf ofMexico

Geo Referenced Real Time

Mobile Sampling Platform

Location of TCOON Water LevelStations Along the Texas Coastas Viewed with Interactive Website

In Situ Moveable Fixed Platform

On Board Logic &

Control

Data Telemetry

Real Time and In Situ

Minimize Human

Factors

Components of Multi-Parameter Sampling Platforms

New Technology and Instrumentation

Real time GIS “Visualization of Large Data Sets”

TCOON Interactive Website

Follows NOAA/NOS Standards Measurements:

Precise Water Levels Wind Temperature Barometric Pressure

Select Stations: Water Current, Salinity, pH, and Dissolved Oxygen

Real Time, On Line

Database

A Fundamental Upgrade of Water Level Forecasting for

the Texas Coast Reliable Short Term Predictions of Effects of Storm Events

Effective for Regular Conditions and Frontal Passages

Accounts for Influence of Wind Forcing

More Accurate than Tide Charts

Online Spring 2003

Proposed Center for Sensitive Nearshore Environments

(SenSE)

Neural Network ForecastsMeasured Water LevelTidal Forecast Charts

SeafloorCurrent Profiler Directional WaveMeasurements

Water

Surface