Surface drifter measurements in the Atlantic North Equatorial countercurrent 1983-1985

Abstract

Thirty freely drifting drogued surface buoys were tracked by satellite in the vicinity of the Atlantic North Equatorial Countercurrent from February 1983 to February 1985 as part of the SEQUAL (Seasonal Equatorial Atlantic) Experiment. Buoys were launched at several different times of the year in order to sample the Countercurrent in different seasons. The purpose was to measure the seasonal variation of the Countercurrent in relation to wind forcing. The basic data set consists of buoy trajectories, and sea surface temperature, velocity, and wind speed along the trajectories. A comparison is made between the data from the buoys and from a current meter mooring near 6N, 28W. The main results presented here consist of the collection of figures which show trajectories and time series data along the Countercurrent, and in the North and South Equatorial Currents, Guinea Current and North Brazil Current.