Overview of ocean based buoys and drifters: present applications and future needs

Starting with an overview of the historical legacy of buoy technology from ancient times to the present, this paper presents a discussion of several topics related to buoy technology, its present applications, and future needs. Technologies for meteorological and oceanographic applications are discussed in relation to buoys, buoy arrays, and drifters. Scientific and technical issues related to these systems are addressed in three topic areas. The first topic addresses buoy, buoy arrays, and drifter programs presently employed. The second addresses data acquisition, signal processing, product generation, and information distribution techniques. The third and final topic concerns the buoy user needs and future scientific and technical requirements.