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Glossary

Chart – a map designed to assist navigation by air or sea

Current – a steady flow of warm or cold surface ocean water in a prevailing direction

Drifter (also known as a drifting buoy) – a floating ocean buoy equipped with meteorological and/or oceanographic sensing instruments linked to transmitting equipment for sending the observed data to collecting centers

Drifting buoy (also known as a drifter) – a floating ocean buoy equipped with meteorological and/or oceanographic sensing instruments linked to transmitting equipment for sending the observed data to collecting centers

Drogue – A sea anchor, usually a canvas-covered conical frame, floating behind a vessel to prevent drifting or to maintain a heading into the wind

Eddy – A current, as of water or air, moving contrary to the direction of the main current, especially in a circular motion

Gyre – a large body of water moving in a circle

Hurricane – a severe tropical cyclone usually with heavy rains and winds moving at 73-136 knots

Sea surface temperature (SST) – measure of heat contained in water at the surface of the ocean