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Drifting buoys move with surface currents. They measure sea surface temperature and atmospheric pressure.
Components of a drifting buoy:
• a holey-sock drogue ensures the buoy follows the movements of the water at about 15 m depth
• a sea surface temperature sensor near the surface
• a tether connecting the sensor to the drogue
• a surface buoy and barometer on top.
The Bureau maintains a fleet of drifting buoys that travel great distances over many years.
A drifting buoy was deployed on 5 December 2014 south of Fremantle in Western Australia. By 2018 it had travelled across to the west coast of South America.
Drifting buoys are located to the north, east and south of Australia.
Drifting buoys move with surface currents. They measure sea surface temperature and atmospheric pressure.
Components of a drifting buoy:
• a holey-sock drogue ensures the buoy follows the movements of the water at about 15 m depth
• a sea surface temperature sensor near the surface
• a tether connecting the sensor to the drogue
• a surface buoy and barometer on top.
The Bureau maintains a fleet of drifting buoys that travel great distances over many years.
A drifting buoy was deployed on 5 December 2014 south of Fremantle in Western Australia. By 2018 it had travelled across to the west coast of South America.
Drifting buoys are located to the north, east and south of Australia.
The journey of a drifting buoy
20 November 2025
Explains what a drifting buoy is and explores Australia's network of this observing equipment.