U.S. Geological Survey Toxic Substances Hydrology Program--Proceedings of the Technical Meeting Charleston South Carolina March 8-12,1999--Volume 2 of 3--Contamination of Hydrologic Systems and Related Ecosystems, Water-Resources Investigations Report 99-4018B

A Marine Nowcast System for San Francisco Bay, California

By Chad A. English, Jeffery W. Gartner, Richard E. Smith and Ralph T. Cheng

Abstract

San Francisco PORTS (SFPORTS) uses an array of sensors at twelve locations in San Francisco Bay to provide real time observations of sea level (tides), tidal currents, water temperature and salinity, wind speed and direction, wind gust, air temperature and barometric pressure. A nowcast numerical model is used to fill spatial data gaps between observed data points and to provide tidal predictions and tidal current patterns. The SFPORTS system and the nowcast numerical model are combined as the San Francisco Bay Marine Nowcast System. The observed data and model results are presented to users on the Internet at http://sfports.wr.usgs.gov/sfports.html. The system was originally designed to aid in the prevention of and response to marine accidents and spills of toxic substances. Although the target users are navigators and spill-response authorities, scientists and educators have used the San Francisco Bay Marine Nowcast System as a resource to further develop our understanding of the bay ecosystem.