The surface current variations in the western Pacific due to the beginning of the 97/98 El Nino are analyzed and described with the TAO data (Matsuura et.al. (1998) and Matsuura et.al. (1999) , contact to mat@jamstec.go.jp). Another scientific results related to this projects can be refereed as Ueki et.al. (1998) , Kashino et.al. (1996) and Kashino et.al. (1998).
2-2. Preliminary data from the 1998 TRITON buoys
Although we should have recovered all four TRITON buoys at 8N, 5N, 2N and 0N along 156E in June 1998 because of galvanic corrosion along mooring line, we could have four 3-months time series data from the buoys. Compared to the data from the TAO-ATLAS buoys standard sensors (air temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, wind direction, water temperatures from sea surface to 500 meters depth) near the TRITON buoys, the daily mean data from the TRITON buoys were confirmed to be at the same quality as the TAO-ATLAS buoys data.
3. Future plan
3-1. TRITON buoy program
We will have total 18 TRITON buoys by the end of JFY1998. The TRITON buoys at 8N, 5N, 2N, 0, 2S, 5S along 156E, and 5N, 2N and 0 along 147E will be deployed during the February - March 1999 R/V Mirai cruise. The array along 138E will be deployed during the October - November 1999. The present TAO-ATLAS buoys in these sites will be replaced with TRITON buoys.
The array along 130E will be deployed in October 2000 by RN Mirai, and two buoys in the eastern Indian Ocean will be also deployed in October 2000. The buoy deployments along 130E and in the eastern Indian Ocean will be started as a pilot study for three years, and be coordinated with other program like JASMlNE , Indian buoy program and Indonesian climate studies etc.
3-2. Current variability measurement
We will also continue the effort to measure current variability along the equator and near the coasts. The ADCP sites at 0N156E, 0N147E and 0N138E will be maintained associated with TRITON buoy array The sites at 0N165E and 0N147E are maintained as part of international TAO current meter array. In addition to the ADCP equator array, we will continue to maintain the ADCP at 2.5S142E along the New Guinea Coast. We will start to measure the Mindanao current variability at the entrance of Indonesian Through Flow.
