Drifting buoy data observed during 1985 through 1989 and assembled by the Responsible National Oceanographic Data Center (RNODC) for Drifting Buoy Data (NODC Accession 9100057)

Physical and meteorological data were collected from drifting buoys from a World-Wide distribution from 2 January 1985 to 31 December 1989. Data were processed by NODC to the NODC standard F156 Drifting Buoy Data format. Full format description is available from NODC at www.nodc.noaa.gov/General/NODC-Archive/f156.html.

The F156 format is used for time series data on ocean circulation determined by the tracking of drifting buoys, drogues, or other instrumented devices as they are carried with the flow. Movement is reported as point-to-point geographic locations determined by shore-based, surface ship, aircraft, or satellite observations. Data from both ocean currents and ice movement can be reported in this format over time periods ranging from minutes to months. Directions and speeds between individual observations may be computed from these data and presented in graphic or summary listing form to provide information on circulation patterns and mass transport in offshore and near- shore regions. Platform name (for platform acquiring data or deploying device), drogue characteristics, start and end positions and times, and observation frequency (if constant time interval) are reported for each series of observation. Other surface meteorological or oceanographic parameters (e.g., water temperature and salinity, air temperature and pressure, wind, waves) and subsurface data (depth, pressure, temperature) may also be reported. Text records may be used to report general comments or to describe individual drogue observations.

1985年1月2日至1989年12月31日期间，科研人员从全球布设的漂流浮标（drifting buoys）处采集了物理与气象数据。所有数据均由美国国家海洋数据中心（National Oceanographic Data Center，NODC）按照其制定的F156标准漂流浮标数据格式完成标准化处理。完整的格式说明文档可通过NODC官网的以下链接获取：www.nodc.noaa.gov/General/NODC-Archive/f156.html。

F156格式专为存储通过追踪漂流浮标、拖曳浮筒（drogue）或其他搭载传感器的设备随流运动所得的海洋环流时间序列数据而设计。设备的运动以逐点地理坐标的形式记录，这些坐标通过岸基、水面船舶、航空器或卫星观测获取。该格式可覆盖数分钟至数月的时间跨度，用于记录海洋流场与海冰运动的相关数据。科研人员可基于该数据集计算相邻观测点间的运动方向与速率，并以图表或汇总列表的形式呈现，以此为近岸与远海区域的环流模式及物质输运研究提供支撑。每一组观测序列均需记录以下核心信息：数据采集平台或设备部署平台的名称、拖曳浮筒参数、起止位置与时间，以及观测频次（若采用固定时间间隔）。此外，该格式还支持记录其他表层气象或海洋学参数，例如海水温度与盐度、气温与气压、风向风速、海浪状况，以及次表层数据，包括深度、压强与温度。用户还可通过文本记录模块填写通用备注，或针对单组拖曳浮筒观测的细节进行说明。