Hydrographic Institute launches drift buoys aboard the NRP Sagres

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

The GDP programme aims to improve global numerical predictions and monitor the oceans and climate through the launch of buoys, which transmit data, in real time, of the surface water temperature, atmospheric pressure and position, allowing to study ocean currents.

It should be noted that one of the buoys launched in the North Atlantic (WMO code 1301774), on 23 August 2023, derived from the influence area of the Franklin cyclone, having recorded an atmospheric pressure of 985hPa. This is an example of how the data of the buoys, transmitted in real time, allowed to track the trajectory of cyclone Franklin and validate the weather models.

Find out more about the program and track the data in real time through the link: https://www.aoml. noaa.gov/phod/gdp/.

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