Now, Australian researchers have plans to examine in detail the influence of temperatures on drought and rainfall in the remote ocean south of Australia. The influences are profound, but we need sustained observation to understand Southern Ocean currents and temperatures.
Ships avoid the remote and hostile region, and as a result few measurements have been made there.
The floats do not remain on the surface, but sink to depths up to 2,000 meters while gathering key ocean data. They return to the surface every 10 days to transmit their information to researchers via satellite.