Buoy 1387 



Buoy 1 387 was deployed from an 

 HC-130at47-01.0N, 47-10.8Wat 

 29March(89)at1730Z. It 

 abnjptly failed on 12 April (103). 

 During its 15 day drift, it transmit- 

 ted seven to eight fixes each day, 

 which is similar to the number 

 received from the standard 

 configuration. The accuracy of the 

 fixes provided by 1387 was 

 essentially the same as those 

 received from the large buoys. 

 This determination was made by 

 examining the quality index of 

 each fix, a value provided in the 

 data stream from Service ARGOS. 

 Most of the fixes fell into category 

 two, which indicates the standard 

 ARGOS accuracy (one standard 

 deviation) of 350 m. 



The wind conditions during the 

 drift period were light to rrxjderate 

 (3-12 nVs), mostly from the north 

 and northeast. As a result, it was 

 not a severe test of the buoy from 

 the standpoint of wind and wave 

 conditions. 



The trajectory plot (Figure B-6a) 

 presents the raw position data. 

 Because of the short record, the 

 position data were not filtered. 

 Filling the filter would have used 

 too much data to make its use 

 practical. The U and V compo- 

 nents presented in Figure B-6b 

 are 3-hourly interpolated values. 



During its fifteen day drift, buoy 

 1387 moved persistently south- 

 westward mostly at speeds in the 

 20-40 cm/s range. Several 

 speeds in excess of 60 cm/s were 

 recorded early in the drift period 

 (31 Mar, 91). The trajectory 

 crosses the 1000 m contour near 

 46°N, which is further to the norlh 

 than usual. More frequently, 

 buoys deployed in Flemish Pass 



BUOY 1387 

 1988 





CL 



5: 



cr 



\ 



j: 

 o 



0. 



r 

 o 



u 



I 



D 



18r 

 16 

 14|- 

 12 

 10 

 8 

 6 

 4 

 2 

 

 -2 



80 

 E0 

 40 

 20 

 



-20 

 -40 

 -60 

 -80 



YERR-DRY 



I I I I 



88 



104 

 YERR-DRY 



I I I I I I I I I I I I I 



104 

 YERR-DRY 







I I I I I 



Figure B-6a. Time history of sea surface temperature, U, and V 

 velocity components (interpoiated 3 hr) for 1387. 



76 



