Roundtable discussionGlobal Drifter Program impacts

1) 30% reduction in KA ship time

The KA is our most significant platform for tropical Pacific deployments, starting in 1997 (34 drifters). In 2006—2010, an average of 55 drifters/year deployed from KA.

(578 deployments)

165°W-95°W, 10°S-10°N:

163 deployments from the KA since January 2005. 

Total # deployments in this region: 731. 

Fraction from KA: 22%.

SOOP/VOS lines from California to New Zealand and from Panama Canal to New Zealand account for most deployments in this region, but spatial coverage is concentrated on and downstream from these lines.

Conclusion: total number of drifters in tropical Pacific would suffer somewhat; spatial distribution in this region would suffer greatly in absence of alternative vessel covering overall domain.

Roundtable discussionGlobal Drifter Program impacts

2) 10% reduction in budget

10% ~ $260k ~ 150 drifters.

1250 array —› 1100 drifters, with 1—2 year lag.

Would fall below benchmarks achieved since Sep. 2005:

1250 target for array, SST potential satellite bias.

- OR – drop all NOAA-funded barometer upgrades.

200 SVPBs @ $1.5k each = $300k. Covers shortfall.

(partners: ~400 upgrades.) But: impacts on DBCP goal of 100% array with barometers, and impacts on collaborations with meteorological agencies.

10% cut in budget, continued.

Inability to address SST accuracy, possible impacts on hurricane drifters, etc.

Indirect impacts on GDP: 10% cuts in other projects.

We rely on other programs for deployment opportunities.

Examples:

• SOOP budget cut could impact one of the lines that we use for deployments.

• Ship time for research cruises (PIRATA, CLIVAR, etc.) also used to deploy drifters. Cuts would impact GDP.