The Data Buoy Cooperation Panel (DBCP )

1. The Data Buoy Cooperation Panel (DBCP) • An official body of • World Meteorological Organization (WMO) • Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) • Created in 1985 for coordinating drifting buoy programmes • Moored buoys included in 1993

2. Principal Objectives • Review and analyse requirements for buoy data. • Co-ordinate and facilitate deployment programmes to meet requirements • Initiate and support action groups • Improve quantity and quality of buoy data on GTS • Information exchange and technology development • Liaison with relevant bodies and programmes.

3. Principal modes of action • Action Groups • Regional • E-SURFMAR (North Atl.) • IABP (Arctic) • IPAB (Antarctic) • ISABP (South Atlantic) • IBPIO (Indian Ocean) • NPDBAP (North Pacific) • Global • GDP (Global Drifter Program) • TIP (Tropical moored buoy Impl. Panel) • Technical Coordinator • Seminars and workshops • Technical publications • Annual panel meetings • DBCP web site (http://www.dbcp.noaa.gov/) • Mailing lists • DBCP general: dbcp@jcommops.org • Buoy operators: buoys@jcommops.org • Evaluation group: dbcpeval@jcommops.org

4. Points of contact Chairman David Meldrum Leader, Technology Development Scottish Association for Marine Science Dunstaffnage Marine Laboratory Dunbeg Tel: (+44) 1631 559273 Oban PA37 1QA Fax: (+44) 1631 559001 Scotland Email: dtm@sams.ac.uk Vice-Chairs Elizabeth Horton (North America) Naval Oceanographic Office Aircraft Operations, NS3 1002 Balch Boulevard Tel: (+1) 228 688 5725 STENNIS SPACE CENTER, MS 39522-5001 Fax: (+1) 228 688 5514 USA Email: hortone@navo.navy.mil K. Premkumar (Asia) Programme Director, National Data Buoy Programme National Institute of Ocean Technology NIOT Campus Velachery-Tambaram Main Road Tel: (+91)-44 2246 0678 PALLIKKARANAI, CHENNAI 601 302 Fax: (+91)-44 2246 0661 India Email: prem@niot.res.in Louis Vermaak (Southern Hemisphere) South African Weather Service 442 Rigel Avenue South Erasmusrand Private Bag X097 Tel: (+27)-12 367 6050 PRETORIA 0001 Fax: (+27)-12 367 6175 South Africa Email: vermaak@weathersa.co.za Technical Coordinator: Etienne Charpentier JCOMMOPS, 8-10 rue Hermès Parc Technologique du Canal Tel: (+33) 5 61 39 4782 32526 Ramonville St-Agne Fax: (+33) 5 61 75 1014 FRANCE Email: charpentier@jcommops.org

5. History & achievements 1978-1980Southern hemisphere buoy array for FGGE. 1981-1985Decrease in deployments 1985 Drifting Buoy Cooperation Panel established 1987 Technical Coordinator position established 1987-1994Acceptance of regional action groups EGOS, IABP, IPAB 1992 QC Guidelines implemented 1993 Argos GTS processing sub-system implemented 1992-1995DBCP participates in SVPB evaluation 1994 First operational deployments of SVP-B drifter 1994 ISABP established by panel 1994DBCP technical documents series initiated 1996 IBPIO established by panel 1996 Global Drifter Programme joins DBCP as an action group 1998 Tropical Atmosphere Ocean array Implementation Panel (TIP) joins DBCP as an action group

6. History & achievements 1998 DBCP Implementation strategy plan 1999 SVP/SVPBW evaluation group established 2000 Southern Ocean Buoy Programme (SOBP) 2000 Decision to distribute buoy data in BUFR as of 2003 2001 Active role is establishment and funding of JCOMMOPS 2002 North Pacific Data Buoy Advisory Panel (NPDBAP) 2003 Relay of quality information via dedicated web page 2003 Buoy data distributed in BUFR code 2004 Substantial increase in drifting buoy deployments 2004 Coordination of deployment opportunities via JCOMMOPS 2004 Buoy metadata collection scheme implemented 2005 E-SURFMAR replaces EGOS as Action Group 2005 Smart buoy concept being developed with users

7. DBCP Action Groups • Independent self-funded body that maintains an observational buoy programme in support of the WWW, WCRP, GCOS, and GOOS. • Good quality Data • Real-time data on GTS • Exchange information on activities and development • Submit annual reports to the DBCP • DBCP supports AG activities and may assist AG through DBCP officers, Technical Coordinator, and WMO and IOC secretariats.

8. DBCP Action Groups • E-SURFMAR EUCOS Surface Marine Programme • North Atlantic & NWP • COST-43 programme, established in 1979 • COST-43 became a DBCP-AG in 1987 • EGOS established in 1989 & becomes DBCP AG • E-SURFMAR replaces EGOS as Action Group in 2005 • IABP International Arctic Buoy Programme • Established & DBCP-AG in 1991 • IPAB International Programme for Antarctic Buoys • Sea Ice Zone • Established & DBCP-AG in 1994

9. DBCP Action Groups • ISABP International South Atlantic Buoy Programme • Established & DBCP-AG in 1994 • IBPIO International Buoy Programme for the Indian Ocean • Established & DBCP-AG in 1996 • NPDBAP DBCP-PICES North Pacific Data Buoy Advisory Panel • Established & DBCP-AG in 2002

10. DBCP Action Groups • GDP • Global Drifter Programme • Former WOCE-TOGA Surface Velocity Program (SVP), established in 1988 • GDP established in 1996 • DBCP-AG in 1996 • TIP • Tropical moored buoy Implementation Panel • Established for TOGA in 1985 • DBCP-AG in 1998

11. Action group map

12. Status by country

13. Status by variable

14. Data Collection & Distribution • Moored buoys • Inmarsat • Meteosat, GOES • Argos • Drifting buoys • Argos (location & data collection) • GPS occasionally for location

15. GTS Data processing • For buoy data collected via Argos GTS distribution via a dedicated sub-system: • No interference with Argos users’ needs • Flexible system capable of processing almost any kind of binary format • Wide range of calibration curves • Simple Automatic QC checks • Gross error limits • User limits • Checksum & compression index by sensor • All bits identical • Sensor blockage

16. GTS data processing • Argos GTS sub system, also: • Data encoded according to WWW standards: • BUOY Drifting and moored buoys • SYNOP Land stations • SHIP Ship reports • BATHY XBTs (temperature/salinity profiles) • TESAC Temperature/Salinity/Current profiles • HYDRA Hydrological stations • BUFR Binary table driven code • Multiplexing methods for large amount of data • Geo magnetic variation correction for wind direction • Reduction to sea level for land stations • Dew Point Temperature computation • Processing of GPS positions

17. Quality Control Guidelines • Decided at DBCP-7, Oct. 91 • To rationalise & speed-up • status change process • of buoys reporting on GTS • Incorporated as part of WWW (Nov. 92, CBS-X) • Principles : • Met. Centres in best position for QC • PIs and Met. centres share responsibility of QC • DBCP-TC acts as a focal point • Argos is responsible for elimination of gross errors

18. Present actors:PMOC: BOM, Australia MSC, Canada MEDS, Canada ECMWF IMO, Iceland JMA, Japan Météo France MS, New Zealand NDBC, USA NCEP, USA PMEL, USA SAWB, South Africa MetOffice, United Kingdom PGC:Designated by Principal Investigators for asking Service Argos for platform status changes DBCP-TC:Acts as a focal point between PMOCs and PGCs Service Argos:Actually implements requested status changes Quality Control Guidelines

19. Status change QC Guidelines Service Argos PGC request feed back BUOY-QIR mailing list GTS partly automated QC messages PMOC DBCP-TC operate QC Also distributed via BUOY-QIR: WMO/Argos list, PGC list, buoy monitoring statistics

20. Implementation Strategy • For DBCP and AG • In support of Global and National programmes • Included in GOOS/GCOS implementation strategy • Autonomy of Action Groups recognized

21. Implementation Strategy • The strategy: • Climatology of drifter tracks • Development of deployment & reseeding strategy • Promote development on new buoys & sensors • Encourage buoy operators to join • Monitor data-flow • Negotiations with manufacturers & telecom. Systems • Focus for information on new telecom systems • Sensor evaluation trials