Ocean and Polar Research ISSN:2234-7313(Online) Ocean and Polar Research

High-frequency (HF) radar measures sea surface currents from the radio waves transmitted and received by antenna on land. Since the data quality of HF radar measurements sensitively depend on the radio wave environment around antenna, Antenna Pattern Measurements (APM) plays an important role in evaluating the accuracy of measured surface currents. In this study, APM was performed by selecting the times when the background noise level around antenna was high and low, and radial data were generated by applying the ideal pattern and measured pattern. The measured antenna pattern for each case was verified with the current velocity data collected by drifters. The radial velocity to which the ideal pattern was applied was not affected by the background noise level around antenna. However, the radial velocity obtained with APM in the period of high background noise was significantly lower in quality than the radial velocity in a low noise environment. It is recomended that APM be carried out in consideration of the radio wave environment around antenna, and that the applied result be compared and verified with the current velocity measurements by drifters. If it is difficult to re-measure APM, we suggest using radial velocity in generating total vector with the ideal pattern through comparative verification, rather than poorly measured patterns, for better data quality.