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