MOVEMENT OF A DRIFTING BUOY AFFECTED BY LEEWAY: FROM THE EMPEROR SEAMOUNT CHAIN TO THE WEST COAST OF CANADA

Abstract

 By observing the movement of a drifting buoy which is affected by leeway and released to the east of the Emperor Seamount Chain, we clarify some of the drifting cases such as a fishing boat that have flowed out due to the Great East Japan Earthquake tsunami.The released drifting buoy moved to the east while meandering, and turned around off the Vancouver Island on the west coast of Canada after 155 days release.The drifting buoy is located closest to the Vancouver Island 175 days after release. The drifting buoy area generally supported the past drifting cases such as a fishing boat. Referring to the observed drifting duration of the drifting buoy from Iwate offshore to the Emperor Seamount Chain in the past study, the drifting buoy traveling duration from offshore Iwate to the west coast of Canada is about one year. The traveling duration suport the past drifting cases such as a fishing boat. The drifting buoy movement velocity has a high correlation with the sea surface wind velocity, and the drifting movement velocity to the east of the Emperor Seamount Chain can be estimated from the sea surface wind velocity.