Welcome to the Adopt a Drifter Tracking Page
and the celebration of the 1250th drifter deployment!
Overview
The Data Buoy Cooperation Panel (DBCP) achieved a major milestone on 18 September 2005. The DBCP deployed Global Drifter 1250 near Halifax Harbor, Nova Scotia. With this deployment, the global drifting buoy array achieved its initial design goal of 1250 buoys in sustained service, and has become the first component of the Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS) to be completed. This was an accomplishment worth celebrating. It took 10 years to reach this milestone from the time that the international community began implementation of GOOS with publication of the Scientific Design for the Common Module of the Global Ocean Observing System and the Global Climate Observing System in 1995. This special ceremony was held aboard the Tall Ship Silva near Halifax, Nova Scotia in association with JCOMM-II to commemorate this historic event.
The ceremonial deployment of Global Drifter 1250 symbolized the filling of the final 500x500 kilometre box.
The Global Ocean Observing System
is truly a “system of systems.” Each system brings its unique strengths
and limitations. No single system can do the job by itself. They are interdependent
and together they build the whole. Most of the individual systems serve multiple
purposes. The drifting buoys measure ocean temperature, surface currents, wind,
and atmospheric pressure over the ocean. The drifters provide the primary calibration
system, or “ground truth,” for satellite measurements of sea surface
temperature, which are essential for climate, weather, and storm prediction.
Drifting buoys are deployed on the high seas by ships of opportunity. The voluntary
service of these commercial freighters, tankers, and other ships transiting
the global oceans is an essential component of the system of systems. The scientific design for the global
surface drifting buoy array calls for 1250 buoys to be maintained worldwide.
The number 1250 is based on the requirement for buoy measurement of sea surface
temperature in combination with satellite measurements. One buoy is needed approximately
every 500 kilometres over the entire global ocean to calibrate the satellites.
If the global ocean is conceptually divided into 500x500 kilometre square boxes,
it takes 1250 boxes to cover the ocean. One buoy in each box equals 1250 buoys.
The countries participating in the Data Buoy Cooperation Panel of JCOMM have
been working for 10 years to collectively build up the resources necessary to
maintain 1250 buoys in sustained service. The ceremonial deployment of Global
Drifter 1250 will symbolize filling of the final 500x500 kilometre box.
The 1250th buoy being deployed by Mike Johnson and Peter Niiler
Background
The global drifting buoy array is one component of the Global Ocean Observing
System that is being implemented worldwide by the JCOMM Members/Member States.
The Global Ocean Observing System combines measurements from drifting and moored
data buoys, profiling floats, tide gauge stations, ship based systems, and satellites
to monitor the changing state of the ocean in near-real-time. The System has
been designed primarily to meet climate requirements, but it also supports weather
prediction, global and coastal ocean prediction, marine hazards warning, transportation,
marine environment and ecosystem monitoring, naval applications, and many other
non-climate uses.