First Transponding Oceanographic Buoys in the Pacific

Abstract

Three transponding oceanographic buoys were released off the Washington coast during May 1964. One drifted over 320 miles 155° T at a speed of almost 5 miles per day. Two buoys, 1000 yards apart on May 29, were recovered 58 miles apart on July 17. Attempts to track the buoys at 10-day intervals by aircraft were unsuccessful. Communications using a frequency of 2690 kc were unsatisfactory at ranges in excess of 200 miles, but an interrogation and transponding range of 900 miles was obtained using 4134.5 kc.