How The System Works
The drifter buoy sends a signal up to space every 90 seconds. The signal contains data from the sensors and the identity of the buoy.
IF a satellite is overhead (they are not always there to receive the data), then the satellite can usually pinpoint where the signal is coming from. All the information is combined in the satellite and sent to ground when the satellite is over either Alaska, Virginia or France. Want to track the satellites? Click here for a NASA satellite tracker website. Pay attention to the satellites listed in the table below. These polar orbiting satellites are the ones that receive our data.
Here is what I have noticed about the system so far:
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Sometimes partial signals seem to make it to space. These signals include some, but not all of the usual data. |
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All times are in Greenwich Mean Time (4 hours later than New York right now) and use a 24 hour clock. So 1:00 PM looks like this: 13:00, and 2:00 PM is 14:00, etc. Lots of other countries use a 24 hour clock for things like railroad or flight schedules, so it is good to get used to the system. |
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Sometimes signals do not come for a long time. Even an hour or more. I've been looking at satellites to see if I can figure out why this may be. It seems that we have to wait for one of the satellites to be overhead. |
I've been trying to figure out which code stands for which satellite. Here is my best guess so far. WARNING: I could be wrong, but here are my guesses:
| CODE | Satellite Name |
| ND | NOAA 12 |
| NJ | NOAA 14 |
| NK | NOAA 15 |
| NL | NOAA 16 |
| NM | NOAA 17 |
| NN | NOAA 18 |