EPIC Research

The Eastern Pacific Investigations of Climate (EPIC-2001), planned over the past five years by scientists in the US, Mexico, Ecuador, Peru, and Chile was launched September 1, 2001, for eight weeks to intensively measure the key processes in the tropical eastern Pacific ocean and atmosphere that are poorly represented in computer models used for El Niño and climate prediction. Much of the experiment took place along the 95°W longitude line from the Mexican coast southward past the equator to 20°S. Some 50 scientists from more than 20 institutions participated. The field operations center for the experiment, including the base for the NOAA P-3 and the NSF C-130 aircraft, was in the city of Huatulco on the southern Mexican coast. Aircraft observations were complemented by shipbased measurements on the NOAA ship Ron Brown, the NSF New Horizon, and the National University of Mexico ship El Puma, buoys and floats in the ocean, and atmospheric soundings by remotely piloted small aircraft based out of the Galapagos Islands of Ecuador. After completing the field campaign, scientists continue collaboration in the analysis of the collected data to gain a fundamental understanding of how the ocean and atmosphere behave and interact in this region and develop improved models to predict climate over the Americas.

Note for educators: Although Jennifer and Jane's reseearch cruise ended, the EPIC research continues. Please use this web site, Jennifer and Jane's lesson plans, daily logs, the videos, and the photos to educate your students about climate, El Niño, and scientific research in general.

Consider this web site, as well as the TAO web site, a resource for teaching your students.

Many organizations and countries are involved in funding the EPIC Experiment. Primary U. S. funding is provided by The National Science Foundation and The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

This website is maintained and frequently updated by
NOAA's Office of Global Programs
ogpwebmaster@noaa.gov.

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