Tropical Pacific Drifting Buoys
M. S. Swenson / AOML, Miami
At the end of June, the number of drifting buoys reporting from the tropical Pacific had declined to 121, of
which 91% had confirmed drogues for measurement of currents. New deployments on the equator provide dramatic
evidence of strong anomalous eastward currents that extend from at least 165E to 110W. This is unusual during
this time of year and may be associated with a a developing warm ENSO event. SST anomalies (SSTA) at the end
of the month are warm (>1.5C) on the equator, with strong positive SSTAs of greater than 3C east of 110W.
Movements of drifting buoys in the tropical Pacific Ocean during JUN97.
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.