To study the flow field off Namibia (20-30 degrees S, 10-15 degrees E), 48
satellite-tracked buoys were deployed and tracked in six bimonthly batches
between July 1994 to September 1995. In situ supporting wind information wa
s collected from a weather buoy moored off Luderitz, from coastal stations
and from voluntary observing ships. Buoy drift tracks were compared with su
rface topography data from the TOPEX/POSEIDON satellite and satellite infra
red images. Most of the buoys drifted in a northwesterly direction, the buo
ys deployed in the south generally moving faster and diverging more from th
e coast than the northern buoys. The overall maximum daily drift velocity w
as 72 cm s(-1), but typical speeds were 10-30 cm s(-1). In the proximity of
the coast some buoys experienced transient southward sets associated with
the effect of coastal trapped waves, while tracks north of 23 degrees S sho
wed inertial oscillations. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserv
ed.