4 Computational implementation for the Portuguese coasts
In figure 1 a general scheme summarizes the operations that follow the reception of an alert. Firstly
all the data regarding the emergency case (e.g. location of the loss, type of object, dimensions, etc)
must be collected and always updated in a standard format and immediately available to all the
subjects involved in the operations. The environmental condition is then assessed by means of
numerical models and, when available, real-time measurements and used to assess the search object
path and to build the probability density map. This information will then allow verifying the
availability of the SAR units which are more suitable to be activated in the particular scenario and to
plan the active intervention. Finally it is of prime importance that both the weather data and the ones
relative to the searching object are updated with in-situ information during the intervention.
High-resolution models are required to resolve the mesoscale features in the regional circulation
systems that can significantly contribute to the drifting forces. Moreover it must be considered that
most of the interventions are within 40km from the shore (Breivik and Allen, 2008) where an even
higher resolution can be necessary to describe the interaction of the circulation features especially in
the presence of complex topographic structures such as canyons or caves and even the effect sea
breeze should be included for successful estimations (Carretero et al., 2000).