Navy conducting research on ocean in Gulf of Guinea

Navy conducting research on ocean in Gulf of Guinea
By Lisa M. Novak, Stars and Stripes
European edition, Wednesday, January 30, 2008

West African oceanic scientists, with help from the U.S. Navy, soon could be predicting severe weather patterns and protecting fishing grounds in the Gulf of Guinea.

During the next three months, the Navy’s High Speed Vessel 2 Swift will deploy 70 buoys and 10 Argo floats that will provide detailed climate data by tracking ocean currents, temperatures and salinity content.

The Navy is teaming with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on the project.

“The information these buoys provide has a direct impact on forecasting, which can help African countries in the region,” said Navy Cmdr. Charles Rock, the ship’s commander. The Swift is part of the Africa Partnership Station, which includes various civilian and military participants working to build stability in the region.

The collaboration began in 2007, when U.S. Navy officials in Europe contacted NOAA in search of partners for APS.


Rest of Africom article at: http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=52040