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Program Management
The Argo project is overseen by an International Argo Steering Team and a Data Management Team that are comprised of representatives of float-providing countries. The array's growth is monitored by the Technical Coordinator at the Argo Information Center (AIC) that is located in Toulouse as part of the JCOMMOPS monitoring and coordinating system for operational ocean observations. There is also an Argo Director. A primary function of the AIC is to implement resolution XX-6 of the Intergovernmental Ocean ographic Commission of UNESCO. This resolution states that: "Concerned coastal states must be informed in advance, through appropriate channels, of all deployments of profiling floats which might drift into waters under their jurisdiction, indicating the exact location of such deployments." Thus the AIC operates a formal deployment notification process and some countries have given formal concurrence for the operation of Argo floats within their Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
The design of the Argo network is based on experience from the present observing system, on recent knowledge of variability from the TOPEX/Poseidon altimeter, and on the requirements for climate and high-resolution ocean models.
The final array of 3000 floats will provide 100,000 temperature/salinity (T/S) profiles and velocity measurements per year distributed over the global oceans at an average of 3-degree spacing. Floats will cycle to 2000m depth every 10 days, with 4-5 year lifetimes for individual instruments. After drifting for 10 days, the float rises to the surface, measuring the temperature and salinity. On the surface the float radios its data and position to an orbiting satellite before returning to depth and continuing another cycle. Satellites relay data to land based receiving stations. Data is quality controlled and all Argo data are publicly available in near real-time via the Global Data Assembly Centers (GDACs) in Brest, France and Monterey, California after an automated quality control (QC), and in scientifically quality controlled form, delayed mode data, via the GDACs within six months of collection.
The array is made up of 23 different countries' contributions that range from a single float, to the U.S. contribution, which is roughly 50% of the global array. To see how many floats are deployed by each country, look at the 2005 Commitments Table.
Funding mechanisms differ widely between counties and involve over 50 research and operational agencies. Each national program has its own priorities but all nations subscribe to the goal of building the global array and to Argo's open data policy. Any agency, country or consortium can take part in the Argo program. They may set up their own data processing facilities or make use of existing ones. Participation can be through float procurement, logistical support for float deployment, or through analysis and assimilation of Argo data. As a contributor, they must agree that any data they collect be made available immediately and without restriction.
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Argo Objectives
Argo's objectives are as follows:
- It will provide a quantitative description of the changing state of the upper ocean and the patterns of ocean climate variability from months to decades, including heat and freshwater storage and transport.
- The data will enhance the value of the Jason altimeter through measurement of subsurface temperature, salinity, and velocity, with sufficient coverage and resolution to permit interpretation of altimetric sea surface height variability.
- Argo data will be used for initializing ocean and coupled ocean-atmosphere forecast models, for data assimilation and for model testing.
- A primary focus of Argo is to document seasonal to decadal climate variability and to aid our understanding of its predictability. A wide range of applications for high-quality global ocean analyses is anticipated.
Argo Members
Countries involved with the Argo project are:
- Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Costa Rica, Denmark, Ecuador, European Union, France, Germany, India, Ireland, Japan, Kenya, Korea, Mauritius, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Russia, South Africa, Spain, UK, and USA.
Argo is establishing a number of Argo regional centers (ARCs). The centers are indentified as follows:
Users
Argo data is used by both operational and research communities to initialize climate forecast models, detect and attribute climate change effects on the ocean, calibrate/validate satellite altimetric data and increase understanding of the ocean and its role in global climate. The data will enhance the value of the Jason altimeter through measurement of subsurface vertical structure (T(z), S(z)) and reference velocity, with sufficient coverage and resolution for interpretation of altimetric sea surface height variability. Argo data will be used for initialization of ocean and coupled forecast models, data assimilation and dynamical model testing.
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