Technical Developments

New developments, tests and evaluation are co-ordinated within EGOS by a Technical Subgroup. The main objectives of this group are to enhance the data network through improved quantity, quality and timeliness of data, reduced operating costs, and optimal use of the resources available.

Some examples of recent activities are:

• The evaluation of lower cost barometers for drifting buoys through laboratory tests and operational deployments.
• The incorporation of a GPS receiver into a drifting buoy to provide buoy position as an inherent part of the data message.
• The development and implementation of a comprehensive set of pre-deployment tests and calibration checks for drifting buoys.
• Evaluation of alternative observing programs.
• Evaluating and performing deployments of drifting buoys from aircraft as an alternative to deployment from ships.