U.S. drifting buoy performance during FGGE

As part of the U.S. drifting buoy development program extensive testing was performed to verify system performance prior to the start of the experiment. End to end systems tests were performed to establish system interface compatibility and to determine correction to production buoys that were needed prior to buoy deployment during the experiment. Data quality analyses were performed on systems prior to and during buoy deployment periods. Sixty-four buoys were deployed by ship and aircraft in the southern oceans as part of an array of over 300 meteorological drifting buoys participating in the experiment. Preliminary results indicate that approximately 50% of the buoys are still operational after one year of operation. An extensive test and evaluation program preceded the deployment of operational buoys. Predeployment and deployment testing was performed to evaluate the quality of the data from each of the buoys being deployed. A description of each test and the evaluation results are given. Buoy performance during the first and second Special Observing Periods is summarized.