Global Drifting and Moored Buoy Observations for 2015

Buoy data from 2015 was assembled by the Global Data Assembly Center for Drifting Buoy Data (DFO OSB MEDS) and submitted to NOAA's NCEI. The dataset contains real-time observations from drifting and moored buoys transmitted via the World Meteorological Organization's Global Telecommunications System. It is noted as incomplete due to some buoys failing to report BUOY messages during the year.

Use Cases

• Modeling sea surface temperature and atmospheric pressure time-series from buoy-reported measurements.
• Validating satellite-derived ocean current data against the positional data from drifting buoys.
• Analyzing spatial coverage and data gaps from the reported locations of moored and drifting platforms.

Strengths

• Data originates from a Global Data Assembly Center (DFO OSB MEDS) ensuring authoritative processing.
• Provides real-time observations distributed on the World Meteorological Organization's Global Telecommunications System.

Limitations

• Dataset is explicitly noted as incomplete for 2015 due to unreported BUOY messages from several buoys.
• Temporal coverage is limited to a single year (2015), with no guarantee of continuous records for all buoys.

Provenance

Source

Global Data Assembly Center for Drifting Buoy Data (DFO OSB MEDS), submitted to NOAA NCEI (Accession 0156004).

Collection Method

Data decoded from buoy code form messages transmitted on the Global Telecommunications System (GTS).

Time Range

2015

Freshness

Annual submission; data is from 2015.

Geography

Global coverage from drifting and moored buoy locations.