On the Future of Argo: A Global, Full-Depth, Multi-Disciplinary Array
Name
fmars-06-00439.pdf
Description
Published version
Size
10.4 MB
Format
Adobe PDF
Checksum (MD5)
2892c75282f231483d743e51862c956b
Author(s)
Owens, W. Brechner
Wijffels, Susan
Ferrari, Raffaele
Forget, Gael
Jayne, Steven
Date Issued
August 2019
Journal
Frontiers in marine science
Publisher
Frontiers Media SA
Citation
Roemmich, Dean et al. “On the Future of Argo: A Global, Full-Depth, Multi-Disciplinary Array.” Frontiers in marine science 6 (2019): article 439 © 2019 The Author(s)
Version
Final published version
Abstract
The Argo Program has been implemented and sustained for almost two decades, as a global array of about 4000 profiling floats. Argo provides continuous observations of ocean temperature and salinity versus pressure, from the sea surface to 2000 dbar. The successful installation of the Argo array and its innovative data management system arose opportunistically from the combination of great scientific need and technological innovation. Through the data system, Argo provides fundamental physical observations with broad societally-valuable applications, built on the cost-efficient and robust technologies of autonomous profiling floats. Following recent advances in platform and sensor technologies, even greater opportunity exists now than 20 years ago to (i) improve Argo's global coverage and value beyond the original design, (ii) extend Argo to span the full ocean depth, (iii) add biogeochemical sensors for improved understanding of oceanic cycles of carbon, nutrients, and ecosystems, and (iv) consider experimental sensors that might be included in the future, for example to document the spatial and temporal patterns of ocean mixing. For Core Argo and each of these enhancements, the past, present, and future progression along a path from experimental deployments to regional pilot arrays to global implementation is described. The objective is to create a fully global, top-to-bottom, dynamically complete, and multidisciplinary Argo Program that will integrate seamlessly with satellite and with other in situ elements of the Global Ocean Observing System (Legler et al., 2015). The integrated system will deliver operational reanalysis and forecasting capability, and assessment of the state and variability of the climate system with respect to physical, biogeochemical, and ecosystems parameters. It will enable basic research of unprecedented breadth and magnitude, and a wealth of ocean-education and outreach opportunities.
MIT Department
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences
Terms of Use
Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license
Persistent DSpace Link
DOI of Published Version
https://doi.org/10.3389/FMARS.2019.00439
