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Image courtesy of NOAA
Plotting Ocean Data to Determine Surface Currents
Ocean buoys, released by ships and planes float with the current and take measurements of different ocean characteristics. Drogue chutes below the surface carries the buoy with the ocean current, and not the wind, instruments to measure barometric pressure, air temperature, sea surface temperature (SST), and conductivity to measure salinity.They are tracked by satellite through a stream of digital data.
"Data from drifting buoys are relayed to ground stations via NOAA polar orbiting environmental satellites (POES). Because these satellites are not geostationary, data are available only when the orbiting satellite is within sight of the buoy. At that time, the buoy data are sent to the spacecraft. From the satellite, data are either relayed immediately to any ground receiving station in view, or stored on board until the satellite moves over special ground stations at Gilmore Creek, Alaska; Lannion, France; or Wallops Island, Virginia. A buoy's position is determined each time a message is processed, thus allowing drift determination" (http://seaboard.ndbc.noaa.gov/drift.shtml).
a.) Plot each position of the two buoys using the table of information listed below, on the enclosed map (TIFF (compressed)/JPEG). Positions of each buoy is as of the beginning of the recorded month. You will need to import the map into the NIH/Scion Image program. Connect the positions and indicate the direction of motion by using arrows
b) Using the measuring tools of your program, measure the total distance each buoy has moved and record it on your map
c) Do a little bit of "Net research" and determine which current is moving the buoys.
d) Do a little bit more research and determine if this current carries warm or cold water.
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