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Standard Float Cycle

Drifting Depth: 1000 m

Profiling Depth: 2000 m

10 Days Cycles

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Status as of 1 December – 2724 Instruments

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What is Argo ?

A new way to collect data from the ocean using robot floatsTake the pulse » of the Ocean’s upper layer in real-time Complement to satellite and other in-situ observing systemsAccess to data is free and unrestrictedTarget- a 3° x 3° global array ( ~3000 floats)

Benefits:•Improve Ocean and Climate forecasting•Understand ocean-atmosphere interactions•Predict seasonal to decadal climate variability

Wide range of applications for high-quality global ocean analyses

4Courtesy H. Freeland, IOS Canada

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2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

Total

Arctic Ocean      0 7 1 0 5 5 1 19

Atlantic Ocean     

65 97 148 189 242 305 261 1307

Indian Ocean      13 24 106 124 158 114 143 682

Mediterranean Sea     

6 4 9 13 18 15 10 75

Pacific Ocean      32 163 188 345 446 562 434 2170

Total 116 295 452 671 869 1001

842 4253

YearlyDeployments

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7

Fleet of US, French, German and Japanese manufactured floats

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(Deepest profiles at

high latitude)

Argo ProfilingDepths

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Argo Status as of November 2001(262 Floats/9 Nations + E.U.)

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Argo Status as of January 2002(310 Floats/11 Nations + E.U.)

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13

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15

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Deployment of floats in the remotest regions to achieve global coverage.

The 28-m RV Kaharoa has deployed 437 floats.

Global Argo coverage is possible with dedicated ship time in poorly traveled regions.

Lat BinsLat Bins NumberNumber

5050oo-60-60ooNN 8888

4040oo-50-50ooNN 202202

3030oo-40-40ooNN 274274

2020oo-30-30ooNN 221221

1010oo-20-20ooNN 206206

Eq-10Eq-10ooNN 266266

1010ooS-EqS-Eq 230230

2020oo-10-10ooSS 226226

3030oo-20-20ooSS 232232

4040oo-30-30ooSS 254254

5050oo-40-40ooSS 256256

6060oo-50-50ooSS 158158

Worldwide Argo coverage “density”.

Active floats per 10o of latitude.

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The status of Argo

I.I. The Argo array is nearing full implementation, with global coverage, and 2700 The Argo array is nearing full implementation, with global coverage, and 2700 active floats.active floats.

II.II. Data are freely available, ~90% within 24 hours via GTS and internet.Data are freely available, ~90% within 24 hours via GTS and internet.

III.III. The northern hemisphere bias is diminished. There is no seasonal bias.The northern hemisphere bias is diminished. There is no seasonal bias.

IV.IV. Data are being used by at least 14 operational centers, and a broad community of Data are being used by at least 14 operational centers, and a broad community of researchers. The second Argo Science Workshop was very successful.researchers. The second Argo Science Workshop was very successful.

V.V. Delayed-mode processing is underway, and the backlog will diminish in 2007.Delayed-mode processing is underway, and the backlog will diminish in 2007.

VI.VI. Argo’s broad international participation is unprecedented.Argo’s broad international participation is unprecedented.

VII.VII. We are now seeing the oceans in ways that were not possible before Argo.We are now seeing the oceans in ways that were not possible before Argo.

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ARGENTINA-AUSTRALIA- CANADA- CHILE- CHINA- COOK ISLANDS- COSTA RICA- DENMARK- EUROPEAN UNION- FIJI- FRANCE- GERMANY- ICELAND- INDIA- INDONESIA- IRELAND- JAPAN- KIRIBATI- KOREA (REPUBLIC OF)- MARSHALL ISLANDS- MAURITIUS- MEXICO- MICRONESIA, FEDERATED STATES OF- MOZAMBIQUE- NETHERLANDS- NEW CALEDONIA- NEW ZEALAND- NIUE- NORWAY- PAPUA NEW GUINEA- RUSSIAN FEDERATION- SAMOA- SOLOMON ISLANDS- SOUTH AFRICA- SPAIN- TOKELAU- TONGA- TUVALU- UNITED KINGDOM- UNITED STATES- VANUATU-

Supported by:

Argo => International Project

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Over 2700 operational floatsFree data distribution and sharingTarget deployment rate reached in 2004: 838 floatsNetwork is youngDeployment failure rate decreased from 8.6% (2001) to 1.9% (2004) 90% of the fleet is profiling deeper than 1000mArgo is truly global and international

Argo is doing well !

Conclusion:

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Challenge:

Sustain the funding long enough to complete the global array …

… and demonstrate its value.

=> Continuous interactions between Research & Operational communities

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Argo Globe, Courtesy H. Freeland, IOS Canada

Argo Portal: www.argo.net