Tropical Pacific Drifting Buoys
M. S. Swenson / AOML, Miami
At the end of September, the number of drifting buoys reporting from the tropical Pacific was 128, of which 78%
had confirmed drogues for measurement of currents. Equatorial eastward currents are still manifest between
170E and 150W. The NECC is well-established and -sampled east of 160W and there are indications that instability
wave activity exists between about 160W and 140W. SST anomalies (SSTA) at the end of the month are warm (>1.5 C)
on the equator across the whole basin.
Movements of drifting buoys in the tropical Pacific Ocean during sep97.
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.