Improved Meteorological Measurements From Buoys And Ships For The World Ocean Circulation Experiment

Abstract

The World Ocean Circulation Experiment (WOCE) is directed at understanding ocean circulation and its interrelation to climate. During WOCE. moored buoys and ships will provide attractive platforms from which to make accurate in-situ measurements of the basic observables-- sea surface temperature, air temperature, wind velocity, barometric pressure, solar and longwave radiation, humidity and Precipitation. From these measurements accurate estimates OE the air-sea fluxes can be made. Drifting or moored airsea interaction buoys will also be needed in WOCE for the verification of the surface data collected by remote sensing. The overall goal of the "Improved Meteorological Measurements from Ships and Buoys" (:[MET) effort is to develop accurate and reliable means of making meteorological measurements from ships and buoys during WOCE. Work being done at the University of Southern California concentrates on i.mproving longwave radiation sensors. Scripps Institution of Oceanography is evaluating the effect of platform motions on radiometers, anemometers, and heading sensors. The work at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution includes development and evaluation of improved sensors, testing to quantify errors associated with present sensors, development of prototype data loggers capable of supporting intelligent data acquisition algorithmns that. reduce measurement error, and testing of sensors andl data loggers on local moorings and on resetarch ships. Prototype buoy and ship data loggers are complete. Prototypes