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Tropical Ocean-Global Atmosphere (TOGA) Tropical Atmosphere Ocean (TAO) Array. Mira Losic Dec 2, 2010. El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO). Weakening of easterlies Sloshing of warm water to the east. Stronger easterlies Steeper than average thermocline. Motivation. 1982-83 El Nino
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Tropical Ocean-Global Atmosphere (TOGA) Tropical Atmosphere Ocean (TAO) Array Mira Losic Dec 2, 2010
El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO) • Weakening of easterlies • Sloshing of warm water to the east • Stronger easterlies • Steeper than average thermocline
Motivation • 1982-83 El Nino • Biggest of the century at the time • Undetected until its peak
1982-1983 El Nino Impacts: • Droughts • Floods • Typhoons • Loss of marine life • Coastal erosion • Landslides • Wild fires • Tornadoes Dust storm in Melbourne, Feb 1983
The Making of TAO Array • 10 years to build and was completed in 1994 • During this time 400 buoys deployed on 83 cruises with 17 different ships from 6 countries • Moorings deployed in 2000-5000m deep waters
TAO/TRITON Array • 70 moored buoys • 8N-8S, 95W-137E • Moorings recovered and replaced annually • Yellow - TRITON • Blue – ATLAS • Red - ADCP (acoustic doppler current profiler) (10m-250m)
TAO Array Data transmitted several times per day and available on web in near real time
Triangle Trans Ocean Buoy Network (TRITON) • TRITON replaced ATLAS buoys at 12 sites in west • TAO/TRITON Jan 1, 2000 • Serviced by Japanese research vessel • Replacement took several years to be sure of quality and proper calibration
Data Display and Access http://www.pmel.noaa.gov/tao/index.shtml
Beneficial Uses • Weather • Research • Agriculture • Marine ecology • Energy and water • Public health • Economy • Education • Recreation
Other Arrays – PIRATA • (Prediction and Research Moored Array in the Atlantic) PIRATA
References • NOAA / PMEL / TAO Project Office, Dr. Michael J. McPhaden, Director • http://www.pmel.noaa.gov/tao/index.shtml • Stewart text