DEVELOPMENT OF DRIFTING BUOY FOR THE PURPOSE OF OBSERVING A TIDAL CURRENT OF YATSUSHIRO SEA

Yatsushiro Sea is an enclosed water area, where the wave height is low and the tidal current is also quiet. Therefore, the seawater exchange with the open sea is not good. Furthermore, the driftage is running from Kumagawa River, and it drifts with the current of Yatushiro Sea. In this study, a drifting small buoy system equipped with a GPS receiver is used for the purpose of observing a tide of Yatsushiro Sea. The effect of current on the buoy was investigated experimentally and numerically, and it was developed the optimum shape of buoy.