Track of GPS-Drifter PIRATA-FR35_389

As part of its support for the preparation of future surface–current observation missions, CNES is funding the PIRATA–ODYSEA experiment, dedicated to studying ocean surface circulation in the equatorial Atlantic. Launched in March 2025 for several months, the campaign aims to bridge the gap between satellite observations—which target currents within the uppermost meter of the ocean—and the in-situ instruments typically used for calibration/validation (CAL/VAL), which operate at depths of several meters. The campaign also seeks to better characterize the diurnal variability of currents, a key source of aliasing for satellite measurements. The dataset comprises 40 Hereon Lagrangian surface drifters deployed along the equatorial line of the Atlantic Ocean.

为支撑未来表层海流观测任务的筹备工作，法国国家空间研究中心（CNES）资助了专注于研究赤道大西洋海域表层海洋环流的PIRATA–ODYSEA实验。该实验于2025年3月启动，将持续数月，旨在填补卫星观测与原位观测仪器之间的观测空白：卫星观测聚焦于海洋表层1米范围内的海流，而用于定标与验证（CAL/VAL）的常规原位仪器则工作于数米深度。本实验还旨在更精准地刻画海流的日变化特征，这是卫星观测中混叠效应的关键诱因。本数据集包含沿大西洋赤道线部署的40台Hereon型拉格朗日表层漂流浮标。