DriftCaster

←Back to public website

Explorer

Virtual buoy trajectory
Public buoy tracking
Private buoy tracking
Validation
Methods

Recent updates

Validation
Sep 11, 2026
Private buoy tracking
Sep 11, 2026
Public buoy tracking
Sep 11, 2026
Methods
Sep 11, 2026
Not Found

DriftCaster

Explorer

←Back to public website

Explorer

Virtual buoy trajectory
Public buoy tracking
Private buoy tracking
Validation
Methods

Recent updates

Validation
Sep 11, 2026
Private buoy tracking
Sep 11, 2026
Public buoy tracking
Sep 11, 2026
Methods
Sep 11, 2026
Not Found

Home

›

Research Notebook

Virtual buoy trajectory

Properties1

description

Live and forecast virtual-buoy trajectories and North Pacific environmental fields.

Real-Time Ocean Drifter Tracking & Forecasting

Methods Validation

Recent notificationsLast 12 hours

Open the bell to load recent activity.

Virtual DriftCaster tutorialDriftCaster controls

Okinawa calculation methods & data sources

Initialization timeMap layer

Locations

Models

Reference

——

Map color scale

Street map

Lower clipMidpointUpper clip

—————

Select a field layer to display its color scale.

Live forecast product

Connecting

Loading current forecastRequesting the public data manifest…

Test caseBuoy ID

Valid from: —
Valid through: —
Last updated: —

Existing buoysRename, favorite, or remove IDs from your list.

Add live buoy forecastGenerate and store a trajectory from the latest reported position.

Add a new buoySave a buoy ID using letters, numbers, or hyphens.

Buoy IDDisplay name (optional)Deployment typeDrifters receive trajectory forecasts. Moored buoys track observations.

History to retrieve (UTC)StarttoEnd

Add new virtual caseChoose a release point and forecast window in UTC.

TitleLive buoy IDLatitude

Longitude

Forecast window

Forcing data available (UTC)

Observed / analysisForecast

Ocean

Wave

Wind · ECMWF

Availability previewEach request includes both data sources with simple and finite-inertia tracks.Loading availability reported by the DriftCaster processor…

Start (UTC)End (UTC)

Run activity

Most recent conditionsEnter a buoy ID to prepare the live view.

Published Spotter observations from R2

Ocean current0.42 m s⁻¹

−3h−2h−1hNow

Speed · direction 248°

Waves—

−3h−2h−1hNow

Peak period unavailable

Wind—

−3h−2h−1hNow

Direction unavailable

ECMWF + Copernicus

GFS + HYCOM

Map layerOpenStreetMap

Select a published live buoyThe latest R2 observations will appear here.

ObservationsForecast trajectoryReleaseSelected time

——

—Current location · placeholder pending

Live statusAwaiting live GPS connectionLast updated buoy positionNot available yet

Map color scale

Street map

Lower clipMidpointUpper clip

—————

Select a field layer to display its color scale.

Observed bulk-parameter time series

Waiting for private telemetry.Measured Spotter time series

Wave spectra and bulk values

Selected observationSelect a live buoy

Spectral availability will be checked after selection.

1D power spectrumFrequency (Hz) · m² Hz⁻¹

No data available

2D power spectrumComing-from direction (°) · frequency (Hz) · m² Hz⁻¹ rad⁻¹

Power scalem² Hz⁻¹ rad⁻¹

Low—Mid—High—

No data available

Significant wave height: —
Mean period: —
Peak period: —
Mean square slope (MSS): —
High-frequency directional spread: —
Peak-frequency directional spread: —

No data availableWave spectra have not been published for the selected time.

Release: —
End: —
Duration: —
Distance: —
Forcing: —
Result: —

DriftCaster combines buoy observations with ocean, wave, and atmospheric forcing to display live conditions and forecast virtual-buoy trajectories.

GitHub
Discord Community