Hydrographic Institute Launches Drifting Buoys Aboard NRP Sagres

The School Ship Sagres, in cooperation with the Hydrographic Institute, launched 10 drifting buoys from the GDP - Global Drifter Program, which are contributing to the international program of NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration - USA). The first buoy was deployed on June 26, 2023, southwest of the Madeira Archipelago, and the last buoy was launched on September 2, 2023, west of mainland Portugal.

The GDP program's main objective is to improve global numerical forecasts and monitor the oceans and climate through the deployment of buoys that transmit real-time data on sea surface temperature, atmospheric pressure, and position, allowing the study of ocean currents.

It is worth noting that one of the buoys launched in the North Atlantic (WMO code: 1301774), on August 23, 2023, drifted in the influence area of Hurricane Franklin, recording an atmospheric pressure of 985hPa. This is an example of how real-time data from the buoys allowed tracking the path of Hurricane Franklin and validating meteorological models.

Discover more about the program and follow real-time data through the link: https://www.aoml.noaa.gov/phod/gdp/.

The buoy identification codes (WMO ID) are as follows: 1301778, 1301781, 1301779, 1301783, 1301775, 1301774, 1301777, 1301780, 1301776, 1301773.