[IIOE2-EP17] Real-time Meteorological and Oceanographic data collection using moored buoy network in Indian Seas (OON-INDIA)
Lead investigator and other key participant(s):
- Dr. R. Venkatesan, NIOT, Chennai, India
venkat@niot.res.in
Period of Project: 1996-continuing
Brief description of the Project:
The Indian Ocean possess many unique characteristics such as periodic reversals in wind/current associated with monsoon dynamics, limited northward extent, fewer islands, narrower continental shelf etc. Systematic time series observations are required to estimate various air-sea interaction processes, ocean dynamics and to model/forecast with better accuracy.Keeping this in view, Ocean Observation System (OOS), under the Ocean Observation Network (OON) program of Earth System Science Organization(ESSO), Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), India was established in 1996 with the objective of sustenance ofthe moored buoy network. Under this program 12 moored data buoys were deployed in Indian seas both in shallow and deep waters during 1997-98 to cater the needs of real time users for better prediction of ocean dynamics as well as satellite data validation, environmental monitoring, oceanographic/climate studies, port activities, harbour/offshore-structure development etc. The mooring program initially started with measurement of Sea Surface Temperature, Sea Surface Salinity, surface current, waves and surface meteorological parameters. Presently OOS operates and maintains an extensive network of twelve OMNI (Ocean Moored Buoy Network for North Indian Ocean) buoys, four coastal buoys, two tsunami buoys, and one CALVAL buoy. The OMNI buoys measures in-situ parameters at one hour intervals of surface meteorological parameters such as Sea Level Pressure, Wind, Wave, Relative Humidity, Short Wave Radiation, Long Wave Radiation, Air Temperature, Precipitation and subsurface parameters such as vertical profiles of temperature, salinity up to 500m and currents up to 200m. The coastal buoys measure surface meteorological parameters and tsunami buoy measure the water level data whereas CALVAL is a buoy dedicated for validation and calibration of several satellite parameters. The data from all the buoysare transmitted in real time and is being disseminated to Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Service at Hyderabad, the data depository designated by MoES, India.
Region of study
Primarily within the EEZ of India