CORDC at UCSD maintains a real-time database of ocean surface currents derived from surface radars called HFRadar Network.  Here's the link to the Oahu radars.  Have patience, it takes a minute to load.  Zooming out to a worldwide view reveals many similar radars blanketing the U.S. coasts.  And these are only the sites indexed by CORDC.  I imagine Europe is similar.

The majority of my time was spent on hardware analysis and processing methods, i.e. improving the final data product rather than investigating the oceanographic processes.  In retrospect, focusing on instrumentation is not advised for a MSc!  Although the career skills are more general ;)

In general, our HF radars operated in the 3-30 MHz frequency range.  The chirp is linear with a bandwidth of 100-200 kHz, coherent integration of 10-20 min, and a transmit power of up to 30 W.  The receive is typically a linear array of 8-16 antennas.  Simultaneous acquisition of all channels with analog multiplexing at HF.  Dynamic range varies, but is typically 135 dB.

I also participated in the ongoing development of the Least-Expensive-RAdar (LERA) at the University of Hawaii Radio Oceanography Laboratory.  Besides the obvious intent of creating a better radar, one of the major design goals is a product that is significantly less expensive than currently available models.  Advanced technology plus a limited user base equals $$$.  If the LERA can bring the cost down, then many more organizations would be able to put this technology to use.

This photo was taken from the backside of the Koko Head radar site.  Wow.