Hydrographical Institute launches Global Drifter Program (GDP) drifting buoy

The Hydrographic Institute (IH), supported by the School Ship Sagres, launched this summer 4 drifting buoys that are contributing to the GDP program. The first buoy was launched on July 25 at 6 nautical miles, equivalent to about 11 kilometers, southwest of Cape St. Vincent, and the other 3 buoys were launched in early August at 250 nautical miles, equivalent to about 11 kilometers, southwest of the island of Tenerife.

The GDP program is the main component of the Global Surface Drifting Buoy Array, a branch of the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS), and a scientific project of the Data Buoy Cooperation Panel (DBCP), with the main objective of: monitor the oceans and climate with in-situ data by deploying in large numbers drifting buoys that transmit, in real-time, their position, sea surface temperature, sea salinity, atmospheric pressure, and wind direction and intensity, allowing among others, the study of ocean currents and ocean climate change. 

The IH, in this cooperation with NOAA, contributes to the Sustainable Development Goals (UN) 13 and 14, respectively, "Climate Action" and "Protect marine life".

Find out more about the GDP program, and follow the data in real-time at https://www.aoml.noaa.gov/phod/gdp/. 

The identifying codes of the buoys launched by IH are (WMO ID): 1301730, 1301725, 1301726, 1301731