Pacific Gyre Digital Minimet Drifters Hurricane Rita 2005

DBCP 21

October 17th-18th

Buenos Aires, Argentina

Minimet Information

• Standard SVP sensor package with addition of barometer, wind direction, and wind speed sensors

• Uses underwater hydrophone to measure acoustic ambient noise which is used to calculate wind speed

Deployment Information

• 20 Minimets deployed– 12 Standard Minimets– 8 T-Chain Minimets

• Deployed on September 21, 2005

• Deployed just south of Hurricane Rita path

Deployment Tracks

Divergence from Prediction

Close-up Tracks

Deployment Statistics

• All 20 drifters survived deployment

• All 20 transmitted throughout hurricane

• Awaiting comparison with SCAT data to calibrate accuracy of wind sensors

• Complete data set for all Minimet sensors

Barometric Pressure

Sea Surface Temperature

Wind Direction

Wind Speed

2005 Highlights

• 2004 data compared to SCAT satellite• Reverted to previous tether

– Multi-conductor cable– Single battery pack

• More extensive at sea testing prior to deployment

• New design of packaging to withstand forces of air deployment

• Higher deployment success rate

2004 SCAT Comparison

Air Deployment Packaging

Air Deployment Packaging

Air Deployment Packaging

Air Deployment Packaging

Air Deployment Packaging

Air Deployment Packaging

Air Deployment Packaging

Air Deployment Packaging

Air Deployment Packaging

Test Deployments

Test Deployments