The US Coast Guard and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) have collaborated to produce a new modeling system to predict the patterns of the current on the surface of the ocean. The “Integrated Ocean Observing System” (IOOS) could be a boon to search and rescue operations as well as research.
From the press release:
The new data sets include surface current maps from high frequency radar systems. The technology measures speed and direction of ocean surface currents in near real time, which the Coast Guard can then use to guide its search and rescue operations with greater accuracy. The maps can also be used to support other scientific work, such as oil spill response, harmful algal bloom monitoring, and water quality assessments.
