Operating principles of the ISABP

The ISABP strives to:-

• Maintain a network using in situ observation platforms such as island weather stations, moored buoys, drifting buoys and profiling floats over the South Atlantic Ocean;
• Establish and maintain data collection and data communication facilities, and ensure that the necessary quality control is undertaken according to DBCP guidelines;
• Distribute basic meteorological and oceanographic data from the network at operationally useful time-scales over the appropriate international data distribution systems;
• Arrange for the archival of data from the network and for the provision of archived data sets to program participants;
• Liaise on technical aspects of buoy development and operational matters;
• Participate in data collection and management capacity building activities;
• Continually review the effectiveness of the program in satisfying data requirements of the users.

Operational Area

The operational area is the Tropical and South Atlantic Ocean.

Variables

Meteorological and oceanographic variables such as atmospheric pressure, sea-surface temperature, air temperature, atmospheric pressure tendency, wind speed and direction, waves as well as other surface and sub-surface variables.

Data archiving

All basic Meteorological and oceanographic data from drifting buoys in the programme are archived by the Integrated Science Data Management (previously MEDS) (Canada), as the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) responsible national oceanographic data centre for drifting buoys.

Other buoy data quality control and archivial activities are relevant to the programme, in particular those of the Global Drifter Centre in Miami and the International Argo Information Center.

Basic network density

The ISABP basic network density will be consistent with the requirements stated by the World Weather Watch and the Global Ocean Observing System.

Buoy recovery and refurbishment

Agencies are encouraged to make arrangements, as appropriate, for the recovery, refurbishment and re-deployment of  instruments.

Data acquisition and distribution

• All buoys in the network are equipped with transmitters to enable basic meteorological and oceanographic data to be transmitted in real-time (synoptic or asynoptic mode);
• All basic meteorological and oceanographic data are coded in the approved WMO code form for buoys;
• Data collected by the network is distributed through appropriate international data distribution systems;
• The program seeks to establish and maintain, as necessary, Argos Local User Terminals (LUT's) covering the area.

Funding arrangements

The programme will be self-sustaining, supported by contributions in the form of equipment, services (such as communications, development, archiving or co-ordination) or monetary contribution. As necessary, suitable arrangements will be made for the administration of the monetary contribution by the participants.

Meetings

An annual meeting of the participants will be held at a location to be determined by them. All the participants are eligible to attend at their own expense.