1. Tropical Ocean-Global Atmosphere (TOGA) Tropical Atmosphere Ocean (TAO) Array Mira Losic Dec 2, 2010

2. El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO) Weakening of easterlies Sloshing of warm water to the east Stronger easterlies Steeper than average thermocline

3. Motivation 1982-83 El Nino Biggest of the century at the time Undetected until its peak

4. 1982-1983 El Nino Impacts: Droughts Floods Typhoons Loss of marine life Coastal erosion Landslides Wild fires Tornadoes Dust storm in Melbourne, Feb 1983

5. The Making of TAO Array 10 years to build and was completed in 1994 During this time 400 buoys deployed on 83 cruises with 17 different ships from 6 countries Moorings deployed in 2000-5000m deep waters

6. TAO/TRITON Array 70 moored buoys 8N-8S, 95W-137E Moorings recovered and replaced annually Yellow - TRITON Blue – ATLAS Red - ADCP (acoustic doppler current profiler) (10m-250m)

7. TAO Array Data transmitted several times per day and available on web in near real time

8. Triangle Trans Ocean Buoy Network (TRITON) TRITON replaced ATLAS buoys at 12 sites in west TAO/TRITON Jan 1, 2000 Serviced by Japanese research vessel Replacement took several years to be sure of quality and proper calibration

9. Data Display and Access http://www.pmel.noaa.gov/tao/index.shtml

10. Current Conditions – La Nina

11. Beneficial Uses Weather Research Agriculture Marine ecology Energy and water Public health Economy Education Recreation

12. Other Arrays – PIRATA (Prediction and Research Moored Array in the Atlantic) PIRATA

13. Other Arrays - RAMA

14. References NOAA / PMEL / TAO Project Office, Dr. Michael J. McPhaden, Director http://www.pmel.noaa.gov/tao/index.shtml Stewart text