Applications of ARGOS and RAMS Measurements in Equatorial Pacific Ocean-Atmosphere Interaction Studies

The ARGOS (and before its launch in October 1978 the RAMS) data acquisition system is (was) used routinely on surface moorings instrumented with oceanographic and meteorological recorders. On one occasion during 1983 when extremely strong currents moved a mooring 31 km from its original position, ARGOS location measurements probably meant the difference between recovery and nonrecovery; a similar situation also occurred in 1977 when RAMS was routinely used to locate our surface buoys. In addition to buoy position information, our experience with telemetering time-averaged wind velocity components and air and sea surface temperatures via ARGOS will be described. The requirement for real-time acquisition of meteorological and oceanographic data throughout the equatorial Pacific will be discussed.