1. What happens when the ship hits the fan. By Laura Harrison June 12 th, 2006 Geography 163

2. Search and Rescue meets Ocean Circulation A Gnarly Rescue Ocean emergencies Necessary information for a rescue How we collect this information Technique evaluation Future of search and rescue

3. Ocean Emergencies In 2001 the US Coast Guard saved over 4,000 lives. 710 lives were lost. Most critical factor in SAR missions: TIME TO GET TO EMERGENCY. SAR success rate is only about 4% when this time exceeds 2 hours.

4. Necessary Information SEARCH 1. Location 2. Vessel characteristics RESCUE 1. Emergency status 2. Current conditions: OCEAN & WEATHER 3. Predicted conditions: OCEAN & WEATHER

5. Distress Alerts & Location Technology takes the SEARCH out of search and rescue Traditional methods: Modern Methods: Morse codeMaydaysFlaresOverdue Ships Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons Global Maritime Distress & Safety System

6. Accurate Detection 121.5 MHz Radio Beacon Location pinpointed within 20 km in 1-2 hours 406 MHz Location pinpointed within 6 km Sends vessel registration info Enhanced 406 MHz (GPIRB) GPS technology: near instantaneous distress via geostationary satellites Positional accuracy ~ 100 meters

7. GMDSS Systems COSPAS-SARSAT NAVTEX INMARSAT

8. Ocean & Weather Conditions Knowing this info reduces arrival time- and is imperative for saving lives. TIDES WIND speed and direction SEA SURFACE CURRENT speed & direction

9. Data Collection Methods Traditional: Current meters, drifting buoys, & regional systems (Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler) Modern: Remote sensing, surface feature tracking, high- frequency radar altimeter Satellites: AVHRR, SAR, GOES

10. Target Detection Instantaneous probability of detection: γ = k h / r 3 k: effect of environmental and physical factors upon detection h: height of observer r: range between observer and target Visibility (surface)Cloud coverSea Surface Temperature Wave heightWind speedPrecipitation

11. Future of Search and Rescue