Tropical Ocean-Global Atmosphere (TOGA) Tropical Atmosphere Ocean (TAO) Array

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Tropical Ocean-Global Atmosphere (TOGA) Tropical
Atmosphere Ocean (TAO) Array

• Mira Losic
• Dec 2, 2010

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El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO)

• Weakening of easterlies
• Sloshing of warm water to the east

• Stronger easterlies
• Steeper than average thermocline

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Motivation

• 1982-83 El Nino
• Biggest of the century at the time
• Undetected until its peak

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1982-1983 El Nino

• Impacts
• Droughts
• Floods
• Typhoons
• Loss of marine life
• Coastal erosion
• Landslides
• Wild fires
• Tornadoes

Dust storm in Melbourne, Feb 1983
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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

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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)

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TAO Array
Data transmitted several times per day and
available on web in near real time
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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

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Data Display and Access
http//www.pmel.noaa.gov/tao/index.shtml
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Current Conditions La Nina
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Beneficial Uses

• Weather
• Research
• Agriculture
• Marine ecology
• Energy and water
• Public health
• Economy
• Education
• Recreation

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Other Arrays PIRATA

• (Prediction and Research Moored Array in the
  Atlantic) PIRATA

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Other Arrays - RAMA
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References

• NOAA / PMEL / TAO Project Office, Dr. Michael J.
  McPhaden, Director
• http//www.pmel.noaa.gov/tao/index.shtml
• Stewart text