The Argo ProjectGregory C. Johnson

PMEL(http://floats.pmel.noaa.gov)

Stephen RiserUW Oceanography

(http://runt.ocean.washington.edu/argo)

• Argo observes physical variability of the global ocean’s upper 2 km.

• US Argo partners: AOML, FNMOC, PMEL, SIO, UW, and WHOI.

• UW and PMEL work together on Argo through JISAO.

• UW leads on ship chartering for US Argo and deploys about 120 floats/year.

• PMEL leads delayed mode salinity QC for Argo and deploys about 80 floats/year.

• UW has provided PMEL assistance with starting up a float lab.

• UW and PMEL have shared staffing and pooled floats for deployment cruises.

• UW and PMEL have cooperated on scientific analysis and delayed mode QC of float data.

• UW, with JISAO assistance for NZ ship chartering, has led in South Pacific Float deployments

• PMEL, with JISAO assistance (both scientific and in data management), has led in delayed-mode salinity quality control.

• UW and PMEL each deploy significant numbers of Argo floats (combined 25% of total effort)

Black – Active, non-NIWA deployedBlue – Active, NIWA deployedGreen – PlannedRed - Hypothetical

• Argo (2003) - WOCE P1 (47N, 1985) salt differences on isopycnals (left) reveal sub polar -S freshening

• What are the time-scales for such variations?

• An isopycnal slice for the basin (26.7 kg m-3, left) is limited by WOCE, but should be complete in the future.

• This analysis gives a hint at Argo data value

• Argo coverage will be basin-wide and seasonal

Argo (~2003) vs. WOCE (1985-1995) Comparisons(courtesy of Li Ren and Stephen Riser)

(2) A salinity anomaly is injected, likely by strong evaporation (with latent cooling).

(4) Salt and temperature are diffused into the pycnocline on longer time-scales.

(1) The South Pacific Eastern Subtropical Mode Water is renewed in 2004 (20S, 110W)

(3) The salinity anomaly destabilizes the water column for double diffusion