Marine Environment Monitoring from Space
Outline:
Nowadays, the Pacific Ocean is seriously affected by human activities such as irresponsible fishing, large-scale efflux of petroleum, dumping of plastic materials etc. Since 1992, TRIC has been performing a drifting buoy experiment based on satellite monitoring to trace ocean debris in the North Pacific Ocean.
By 1995, TRIC has released total of 28 buoys in the western part of the North Pacific Ocean and tracked by NOAA ARGOS system.
The most of the buoys drifted toward East in the extension between approximately 30 degrees to 40 degrees of the North latitude as expected. The trajectories of the buoys are suggesting the complex mechanism of sea current.
Outlook of a buoy
