DIFFERENCES IN DRIFT BEHAVIOR BETWEEN DROGUED AND UNDROGUED SATELLITE-TRACKED DRIFTING BUOYS

Drift behavior of drogued and undrogued Hermes-type buoys is studied. After drogue loss, an increase in drift speed and acceleration is observed as well as improved correlations between drift and wind in both speed and direction. With these criteria, a method for the separation of large data sets into a drogued and an undrogued part has been developed. In most areas of the North Atlantic this works very well; problems arise in regions with strong surface currents and/or light winds. A statistical analysis is performed in a selected area to demonstrate the errors that can be caused by indiscriminate use of drogued and undrogued drifters. Mean and rms velocities as well as kinetic energies change significantly when undrogued buoys are considered. Therefore caution is essential when using surface drifters without drogues.