Tropical Ocean-Global Atmosphere (TOGA) Tropical Atmosphere Ocean
(TAO) Array
Mira LosicDec 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• TornadoesDust 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
Current Conditions – La Nina
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
Other Arrays - RAMA
References
• NOAA / PMEL / TAO Project Office, Dr. Michael J. McPhaden, Director
• http://www.pmel.noaa.gov/tao/index.shtml• Stewart text
