# Presentation: 201329

## International Argostructure

- Argo TC
- M. Belbeoch
- Accra, Ghana

## Argo

- Argo serves oceanographic research & operational oceanography
- In 1998 the World Climate Research Programme (WCRP) Climate Variability and Predictability Experiment (CLIVAR) through its Upper Ocean Panel (UOP) and GODAE endorsed Argo and agreed to form an Argo Science Team

## Argo Science Team

- Argo is managed by the AST
- Implementation of the network is coordinated by the AST
- AST decided to make data freely available (in R/T and DM) through IOC and WMO data exchanges systems
- AST became the Argo Steering Team in 2004

## National contributions

## Argo Data System

- Data issues are coordinated by the Argo Data Management Team
- 2 channels of real time distribution:
- GTS of WMO
- Internet from 2 Global Data Centres (GDACs)
- National Data Centres feed the GTS and 2 GDACs :
- 			Coriolis Server (IFREMER, France)
- 			GODAE Server (FNMOC, USA)
- Standard Real-Time QC applied
- Delayed-Mode QC being finalized (data available from GDACs after delay of 6-12 months)
- Argo Regional Centres being established
- Long Term Archival Centre established @ NODC, USA
- CDROM being finalized (NODC)

## Argo is a CLIVAR/GODAE project

**CLIVAR**: Argo is formally endorsed by CLIVAR and falls within the scope of the CLIVAR Ocean Observations Panel (COOP).
- to provide an enhanced real-time capability for measurement of temperature and salinity through the upper 2000 m of the ocean and contribute to a global description of the seasonal cycle and interannual variability of the upper ocean thermohaline circulation.

## Argo is a CLIVAR/GODAE project

- GODAE: Argo is the primary *in situ* data-gathering component of GODAE to contribute to short-term ocean forecasting, to provide boundary conditions for forecasting in coastal areas, and to contribute to seasonal in inter-annual atmospheric forecasts.

## Relationship to GOOS/GCOS

- Argo is a major project of GOOS (Global Ocean Observing System) and GCOS (Global Climate Observing System)
- GOOS and GCOS are supported by WMO, IOC, ICSU (International Council for Science), and UNEP (United Nations Environment Programme)

## Argo

**WMO**

**IOC**

**UNEP**

**ICSU**

- WMO-IOC-ICSU
**WCRP**

- WMO-IOC-ICSU-UNEP
**GCOS**

- WMO-IOC-ICSU-UNEP
**GOOS**

- WMO-IOC
**JCOMM**

**CLIVAR**

**COOP**

**OOPC**

**GODAE**

**Argo**

**AIC**

**AST**

**GSC**

**SC**

## Argo and IOC

- At its 20th Executive Council, IOC accepted Argo as an important contribution to the operational ocean observing system of GOOS and GCOS, as well as a major contribution to CLIVAR and other scientific research programmes.
- The Executive Council adopted resolution XX-6 which requires that *“**the 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**.”*

## The Argo Information Centre

- To meet this requirement, the IOC, with the support from interested Member States, established in 2001 an international Argo Information Center (AIC) staffed by a Coordinator
- Argo Coordinator will act as a clearing house for information on all aspects of float use, and promote an improved international dialogue between oceanographers and meteorologists, and between research and operational communities.

## The Argo Information Centre

- The AIC was established within JCOMMOPS (Joint WMO-IOC Commission for Oceanography and Marine meteorology Observing Support Platform centre), providing coordination for floats, drifters, moored buoys and Ship observations.
-                _[www.jcommops.org](http://www.jcommops.org/)_

## The Argo Information Centre

-  Became part of the Argo Project Office in 2003
-  Staffed with 1 Technical Coordinator (IOC employee)
-  Funded  by Australia, Canada, France, UK and US
-  Guidance by AST chair and Argo Project Office Director (no more funded since June 2006)
-  Close collaboration with IOC and WMO secretariats
-  IOC Res. XX-6 implementation
-  International Technical Coordination

## The Argo Information Centre

- All float deployments are notified at the AIC
- Beached floats (1%) are recovered

## http://argo.jcommops.org 

## AIC

- The AIC encourages Argo Donor programmes:
- Some floats are donated to countries for deployment
- Float responsibility is transferred
- Marine technology is transferred
- Initiatives coordinated under the auspices of IOC and WMO
- political support at national level
- Avoid or minimize custom taxes
- Achieved: Mexico, Costa Rica, Argentina, Mauritius, Brazil, Ireland, Chile
- Ongoing: Ecuador, Rep. Dominican, Kenya, Morocco
- To do: Africa & Caribbean Region

## Thank You ...

Mathieu Belbeoch, Argo TC
belbeoch@jcommops.org

*Mathieu Belbeoch, Argo TC*
*belbeoch@jcommops.org*