Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
8.4 Ocean observation through the Argo Project
The Argo Project is an array of over 3500 active free-floating ocean monitoring devices.
Argo builds on existing observation networks of observing ships and ships of opportunity,
tide gauges, surface drifters, subsurface drifters, moored buoys, and profiling floats. All data
are relayed and made publicly available within hours after collection. As the Argo floats
may drift into EEZs, a notification system has been put in place. Argo is a component of the
Integrated Global Observing Strategy (IGOS), supported by intergovernmental programmes
suchasthe Global Climate Observing System (GCOS), the Global Ocean Observing System
(GOOS), and the Global Terrestrial Observing System (GTOS), sponsored by multiple in-
ternational and UN agencies and programmes. Its worldwide scope calls for some form of
international legal regulation, because it employs thousands of voluntary observing ships
and ships of opportunity, as well as tide gauges, surface drifters, subsurface drifters, moored
buoys, and profiling floats that may drift into national EEZs. Argo floats are deployed to
collect a large database of ocean signals related to climate change and to provide in situ
satellite observations of the Earth System as a whole, while protecting life and property, pre-
dicting climate variations and severe weather, collecting, storing, and distributing data and
information freely to all interested users in near-real time. Argo provides free, unrestricted,
and operational data distribution. Data are delivered in real time to WMO, GTS, and Argo
Global Data Centres in USA and France. A long-term archival centre has been established at
the US National Oceanographic Data Center. Regional data centres have also been created
to promote data use on a regional basis (Argo Information Centre, 2006 ) .
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