Tropical Pacific Drifting Buoys
M. S. Swenson / AOML, Miami
During April the number of drifting buoys reporting from the tropical Pacific Ocean declined further to 155, of
which 75% had confirmation of drogues for measurement of currents. Coverage is particularly sparse from 5S to 10N,
and over most of the SE Pacific. The buoys show continued eastward flow along the Equator in the west, and even
stronger eastward flow (70 cm/s) in the east. At the end of the month SSTA was +1 to +2C west of California, east
of New Zealand, and at the Equator in both the east and west. A band of negative SSTA (-1C) was situated between
10N and 20N. The strong eastward flow on the Equator is likely to furhter increase the positive SSTA observed there.
Movements of drifting buoys in the tropical Pacific Ocean during apr97.
The linear segments of each trajectory represent a two week displacement.
Red paths show buoys drogued to 15-m depth; blue paths show undrogued buoys.