National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration
United States Department of Commerce


 

FY 1993

The Tropical Atmosphere Ocean Array

Hayes, S.P., L.J. Mangum, and O.F. Steffin

In Proceedings, MTS '92 Conference, Marine Technology Society, Washington, D.C., 19–21 October 1992, 451–456 (1992)


The focus of the international Tropical Ocean and Global Atmosphere (TOGA) program has been the investigation of the oceanic and atmospheric dynamics relating to the El Niño-Southern Oscillation phenomenon in the equatorial Pacific Ocean and its importance in the year-to-year variability of global climate. As part of the TOGA program, efforts have been made to enhance the real-time ocean observing system in the tropical Pacific Ocean. One element of this improved system is the TOGA-Tropical Atmosphere Ocean (TAO) array of wind and upper ocean thermistor chain moorings. Measurements from these moorings include surface parameters (wind, air and sea surface temperature) as well as subsurface temperatures down to a depth of 500 meters. These data are transmitted to shore in real-time using the ARGOS system on NOAA's polar orbiting satellites, processed by Service ARGOS Incorporated, and placed on the Global Telecommunications System. Post recovery processing and analysis of the data is performed at NOAA's Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory, Seattle, Washington. This array and its planned expansion is the result of international collaboration with scientists from France, Japan, Korea, Taiwan and USA. The TAO array, its development, and plans for an expanded array are discussed.




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