Global Array Tracks Climate Changes
Rhonda Moniz
February 25, 2013
Argo's global array of profiling floats will provide a major contribution to the Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS) and the Global Climate Observing System (GCOS). The Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) endorse Argo. The floats return to the sea surface at regular intervals and data are transmitted via satellite for processing. A significant improvement is expected in data coverage, particularly in the remote ocean regions where floats can be deployed via airdrops. In October 2007 it achieved its goal of 3000 operating floats. These are providing around 100,000 observations each year, throughout all the ice-free deep-ocean areas of the world.