Tropical Pacific Drifting Buoys
M. S. Swenson / AOML, Miami
At the end of May, the number of drifting buoys reporting from the tropical Pacific had declined to 143, of
which 71% had confirmed drogues for measurement of currents. Coverage is particularly sparse over the
near-equatorial regions of the east and central Pacific and over most of the SE Pacific. Eastward flow near
the dateline and near 125W has persisted. SST anomalies at the end of the month are warm (>1.5 C) in the
eastern equatorial band and warm (0.5 to 1.5 C) as far west as 170W.
Movements of drifting buoys in the tropical Pacific Ocean during may97.
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.