Weather buoy
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0c/NOAA-NDBC-discus-buoy.jpg/220px-NOAA-NDBC-discus-buoy.jpg)
Weather buoys are instruments which collect
History
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c3/Weather_Buoy_MDS.jpg/220px-Weather_Buoy_MDS.jpg)
The first known proposal for surface weather observations at sea occurred in connection with aviation in August 1927, when Grover Loening stated that "weather stations along the ocean coupled with the development of the seaplane to have an equally long range, would result in regular ocean flights within ten years."[1] Starting in 1939, United States Coast Guard vessels were being used as weather ships to protect transatlantic air commerce.[2]
During
The
Between 1985 and 1994, an extensive array of moored and drifting buoys was deployed across the equatorial Pacific Ocean to monitor and help predict the
Instrumentation
Weather buoys, like other types of weather stations, measure parameters such as
Types
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b7/Mooredbuoytypes.gif/220px-Mooredbuoytypes.gif)
Weather buoys range in diameter from 1.5–12 metres (5–40 ft). Those that are placed in shallow waters are smaller in size and moored using only chains, while those in deeper waters use a combination of chains, nylon, and buoyant polypropylene.
Discus buoys are round and moored in deep ocean locations, with a diameter of 10–12 metres (33–39 ft).[16][17] The aluminum 3-metre (10 ft) buoy is a very rugged meteorological ocean platform that has long term survivability. The expected service life of the 3-metre (10 ft) platform is in excess of 20 years and properly maintained, these buoys have not been retired due to corrosion. The NOMAD is a unique moored aluminum environmental monitoring buoy designed for deployments in extreme conditions near the coast and across the Great Lakes.[16] NOMADs moored off the Atlantic Canadian coast commonly experience winter storms with maximum wave heights approaching 20 metres (66 ft) into the Gulf of Maine.
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7b/12-meter_discus_buoys.jpg/220px-12-meter_discus_buoys.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c2/SVP-B.jpg/220px-SVP-B.jpg)
Drifting buoys are smaller than their moored counterparts, measuring 30–40 centimetres (12–16 in) in diameter. They are made of plastic or fiberglass, and tend to be either bi-colored, with white on one half and another color on the other half of the float, or solidly black or blue. It measures a smaller subset of meteorological variables when compared to its moored counterpart, with a barometer measuring pressure in a tube on its top. They have a thermistor (metallic thermometer) on its base, and an underwater drogue, or sea anchor, located 15 metres (49 ft) below the ocean surface connected with the buoy by a long, thin tether.[18]
Deployment and maintenance
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/18/Noaabouy.jpg/220px-Noaabouy.jpg)
A large network of coastal buoys near the United States is maintained by the National Data Buoy Center,
Comparison to data from ships
Wind reports from moored buoys have smaller error than those from ships. Complicating the comparison of the two measurements are that NOMAD buoys report winds at a height of 5 metres (16 ft), while ships report winds from a height of 20–40 metres (66–131 ft).
Gallery
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12-Meter Discus Buoy
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12-Meter Discus Buoy
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10 m discus buoy
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10 m discus buoy
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10 m discus buoy
References
- ^ George Lee Dowd Jr. (August 1927). "The First Plane to Germany". Popular Science. 111 (2). Popular Science Publishing Company, Inc.: 121. Retrieved 2011-01-18.
- ISBN 978-0-405-13081-6. Retrieved 2011-01-18.
- ISBN 9780870817687.
- ^ Selinger, Franz (1985). "Deutsche automatische Wetterstationen in der Arktis 1942-1945". Polarforschung (55). Bremerhaven: 55–67.
- ^ J. A. Shirley (May 1959). "Marine Automatic Weather Stations" (PDF). Weather Bureau Topics. 18 (5): 83. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2019-06-19. Retrieved 2017-08-10.
- S2CID 111274406.
- ^ National Research Council (U.S.). Ocean Science Committee, National Research Council (U.S.). Study Panel on Ocean Atmosphere Interaction (1974). The role of the ocean in predicting climate: a report of workshops conducted by Study Panel on Ocean Atmosphere Interaction under the auspices of the Ocean Science Committee of the Ocean Affairs Board, Commission on Natural Resources, National Research Council. National Academies. p. 40. Retrieved 2011-01-18.
- ^ Elwyn E. Wilson (July 1973). "Scientists Discover Western Atlantic Currents Are Highly Variable". Mariners Weather Log. 17 (4). National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
- ^ National Aeronautics and Space Administration (2009-04-15). "Ocean Motion and Surface Currents". Retrieved 2011-01-28.
- ISBN 978-0-521-56057-3. Retrieved 2011-01-09.
- ^ Hurricanes: Science and Society (2010). "Weather Buoys". University of Rhode Island. Retrieved 2011-01-28.
- ^ Collecte Localisation Satellites (June 2010). "ARGOS Guinness Book" (PDF). p. 5. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-07-25. Retrieved 2011-01-28.
- ^ Integrated Marine Observing System (May 2010). "IMOS deploys the world's first weather buoy in the remote Southern Ocean" (PDF). Marine Matters (8). Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research: 1. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2020-03-20. Retrieved 2016-08-20.
- ^ a b c National Data Buoy Center (2008-02-04). "Moored Buoy Program". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Archived from the original on 2012-03-06. Retrieved 2011-01-29.
- ^ ISBN 978-90-481-8680-8. Retrieved 2011-01-09.
- ^ ISBN 978-1-57409-158-8. Retrieved 2011-01-27.
- ISSN 0041-798X. Retrieved 16 June 2020.
- ^ R. Lumpkin & M. Pazos (2010-06-08). "What's a Drifter?". The Global Drifter Program. Retrieved 2011-01-29.
- ISBN 978-0-309-06088-2.)
{{cite book}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link - Department of Homeland Security (2009-06-02). "Department of Homeland Security Weather Programs" (PDF). Office of the Federal Coordinator for Meteorology. p. 2. Retrieved 2011-01-29.
- ^ Data Buoy Cooperation Panel (2009). "Buoy Recover Techniques" (PDF). Joint WMO-IOC Technical Commission for Oceanography and Marine Meteorology in situ Observing Platform Support Centre. pp. 1–4. Retrieved 2011-01-29.
- ^ Environment Canada (2010-12-30). "Marine Weather Observations". Government of Canada. Retrieved 2011-01-29.
- ^ Met Office (2011). "Marine Observations". Retrieved 2023-02-05.
- S2CID 128839496. Archived from the original(PDF) on 2018-04-17. Retrieved 2018-03-01.
- ISBN 978-0-444-50757-0. Retrieved 2011-01-09.
- ^ Michael Marshall (2010-11-16). "Ships and buoys made global warming look slower". New Scientist. Retrieved 2011-01-29.
External links
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