TAO and PIRATA buoy networks in the tropical Pacific and Atlantic

The TAO array consists of approximately 70 ATLAS and current meter moorings in the Tropical Pacific Ocean, telemetering oceanographic and meteorological data in realtime via the Argos satellite system. Designed to improve detection, understanding, and prediction of El Niño, TAO is a major component of the global climate observing system. The array is presently supported by an international consortium, involving cooperation between the United States, France, Japan, and Taiwan.

PIRATA (Pilot Research Moored Array in the Tropical Atlantic) is a project designed by a group of scientists involved in CLIVAR, and is implemented by the group through multi-national cooperation. The purpose of PIRATA is to study ocean-atmosphere interactions in the tropical Atlantic that are relevant to regional climate variability on seasonal, interannual and longer time scales. Contributions are provided by France (with the participation of IRD in collaboration with Météo-France, CNRS, Universities and IFREMER), by Brazil (INPE and DHN) and by the USA (NOAA/PMEL, NASA and Universities).