• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.507-516
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• 2011

Tropical Atmosphere Ocean/Triangle Trans-Ocean Buoy Network (TAO/TRITON) Array is the series of buoys for the international ocean research project, which is mostly supported by National Ocean and Atmosphere Administration (NOAA) and Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC). We can determine the effect of the equatorial and Pacific Ocean conditions on global climate change from buoy array measurement data. The TAO/TRITON array comprises around 70 measurement buoys from $10^{\circ}$ north to $10^{\circ}$ south in the tropics and between Galpagos and New Guinea. NOAA maintains ATLAS buoys in the central and eastern Pacific between $165^{\circ}E$ and $95^{\circ}W$, and JAMSTEC maintains the 12 buoys in the western Pacific along $137^{\circ}E$, $147^{\circ}E$, and $156^{\circ}E$. The KA-10-03 cruise excursion provided us with a good opportunity to obtain knowledge on oceanic buoy operation and maintenance. Further, we learned advanced techniques and know-how on buoy operation and maintenance. Once we are confident with our buoy management and maintenance techniques, both KORDI and NOAA technicians may be able to help each other when needed and share available resources.