Array of Floats Collects One Millionth Data Profile
Rhonda Moniz
December 31, 2012
In the late nineties a group of scientists planned to maintain a network of 3,000 units, in ice-free areas, providing both real-time data and higher quality delayed mode data and analyses to underpin a new generation ocean and climate models. In 2007 the 3,000 float target was reached and the array has remained above 3,000 floats. The project is known as Argo. Argo floats are gathering profiles of temperature and salinity together with information on subsurface water movement at the rate of 1 profile approximately every 4 minutes, (360 profiles per day or 11,000 per month) and on 4 November 2012 the array passed the symbolic milestone of collecting its 1 millionth profile.