C5.06: Argo: Recent Insights and Future Evolution - Susan Wijffels
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Since reaching global coverage in 2006, the Argo array of profiling floats has been delivering high-quality temperature and salinity profiles from depths of around 2000m to the surface every 10 days (www.argo.net). When synthesized, these data show that the Earth’s warming has continued unabated at 0.4-0.6 Wm-2 despite a ‘hiatus’ in surface air temperature rise. Argo’s depth reach reveals that short-term vertical displacement of heat accounts for this surface ‘hiatus’, characterized by compensating subsurface warming above ~700m. Below 700m a steady warming is detected down to 2000m. Over the period for which Argo coverage is global (2006 to present), most of the extra heat is accumulating in the Southern Hemisphere extratropical ocean. Argo drift phase data are also revealing striking structures in the mid-depth circulation field. We will describe the current status of Argo and its challenges. We will also outline progress towards evolving the design of the Argo array and piloting extensions to cover existing gaps (marginal seas, deep and ice-covered oceans) and new parameters such as bio-chemical and optical measurements.
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C5.06: Argo: Recent Insights and Future Evolution - Susan Wijffels
- 1. Argo: Recent Insights and Future Evolution Susan Wijffels, CSIRO/ Centre for Australian Weather and Climate Research, Australia Dean Roemmich, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, USA Howard Freeland, hosted at IOS,Canada and The Argo Steering Team Blue Planet, Cairns, 2015
- 2. Fom the 1998 Argo Design document: See http://www.argo.ucsd.edu/argo-design.pdf an idea Argo in 1998
- 3. Argo in 2001
- 4. Argo in 2015
- 5. Active Floats come from 30 nations
- 6. Coverage build up: some areas remain malnourished
- 7. A warming hiatus? Surface global temperatures rise rates have ‘stalled’ several times, recently since ~1998
- 8. A warming hiatus? Argo sees it at the surface too. Roemmich, et al, NCC, 2015 Argo NOAA/Reynolds
- 9. A warming hiatus? The subsurface view is very different • near cancellation of surface variability by 400m • steadier warming below this – extending to 2000m Roemmich, et al, NCC, 2015
- 10. Ocean warming has continued unabated over the Argo record • integrated globally and to 2000m, the warming rate is very steady: 0.4-0.6W/m2 Argo allows detection of this small signal in only 8 years – this is remarkable and due to the uniform coverage and the high quality of the data
- 11. Argo trajectories give unprecedented details of ocean circulation at 1000m Ollitrault and Colin De Verdiere, 2014
- 12. Argo-based 1000m dynamic topography Ollitrault and Colin De Verdiere, 2014
- 13. A Global Design Towards spatial completeness • Same mission – tracking the slow manifold - more spatially complete and better signal to noise • Double sampling in WBCs and equatorial regions • Marginal Seas: enhanced sampling - determined by regional partnerships • Seasonal Ice zone: normal sampling [Fast ice zone requires different technology]
- 14. Global Design Target: 4135 floats
- 15. Marginal Seas • Target density 2 x global design = 2 floats every 3degrees • Possible due to high bandwidth communications -> less grounding • Demand for biogeochemistry and optics is high • Implementation can only happen within a strong functioning GOOS regional alliance which has overcome EEZ sensitivities
- 16. Equatorial Enhancement • can better resolve the intraseasonal variability that is so important to ENSO/monsoon/IOD • Successful pilot carried out after the decline of TAO – 41 faster cycling floats were deployed by US Argo along the Pacific equator • GOOS-OOPC TPOS2020 should deliver a more rigorous recommendation
- 17. Seasonal Sea-Ice Zone • A blind spot in the GOOS – needs to be urgently addressed due to links between ocean warming – ice sheet loss – future sea level rise • Arctic –promising - YOPP/FRAM • Antarctic- stalled? Engage SOOS
- 18. Western Boundary Current Enhancements • high eddy activity drives a lower signal/noise ratio for Argo’s target space/time scales • Due to some process studies and regional interest, the Kuroshio/Oyashio system has been a pilot of this enhancement • Ultimately guidance will come from the OOPC Western Boundary Current project
- 19. New Missions? Deep Argo Why? • Sparse repeat ship data show us that the ocean below Argo is warming consistently, particularly in the Southern Hemisphere • This matters for sea level rise and the Earth’s energy budget • Ocean and climate forecasters also want data below 2000 m Bottom Water warming from 1990’s to 2000’s Purkey and Johnson (2010)
- 20. Deep Argo Status • Deep floats have been developed and tested by several groups • A new CTD sensor is under parallel development with improved stability and accuracy • A very successful workshop was just held to develop a science and implementation prospectus, global design and costing - feed into the GOOS Deep Ocean Observing System • 3 coordinated pilots are being planned: Atlantic/S. Pacific/Southern Ocean
- 21. New Missions? Bio-Argo • Understand the fundamental bio-geo-chemical cycling in the oceans, and thus the foundation of biological productivity patterns and carbon uptake • To track any long term trends – e.g there is already evidence of significant ocean oxygen changes Subsurface partner of ocean colour satellite data
- 22. Bio-Argo Status • > 200 floats already carry oxygen – QC and sensor stability work is progressing well • nitrate, pH (acidity), and bio-optical sensors have been developed and now deployed on a subset of Argo floats • 2 major open ocean arrays (Atlantic and Southern Ocean) are rolling out and in one marginal sea (Med Sea) • Major progress on data handling and QC – strong partnership with the Argo Data System • Strong links to GOSHIP/IOCCP/GOOS BGC activities
- 24. Summary and Challenges GOOD NEWS • The Argo array is currently in a healthy state • Many enhancements and extensions are gaining momentum, developing as part of the integrated GOOS and following the FOO pathway • Research and operational uptake continues to grow BAD NEWS • Several major contributors (US, Australia, Japan) will see significant declines in deployments due to flat (below inflation) or decreased funding. Growth by Europe and China programs will not likely compensate for this. • We have coped in the past by increasng float lifetimes but this well has probably run dry • Thus there is a real potential we will see degradation of array densities in the next few years
Editor's Notes
- Active floats are operated by 30 countries. Boost of chinese fleet after a substantial effort of national coordination (« Argo equivalent » contributions).
- Point out pinotubo (1992) and 97/98 ENSO Decadally can be quite decoupled – natural variability IPO/NAO Add Dean’s o-2000m temperature picture
- Point out pinotubo (1992) and 97/98 ENSO Decadally can be quite decoupled – natural variability IPO/NAO Add Dean’s o-2000m temperature picture
- Point out pinotubo (1992) and 97/98 ENSO Decadally can be quite decoupled – natural variability IPO/NAO Add Dean’s o-2000m temperature picture
- Point out pinotubo (1992) and 97/98 ENSO Decadally can be quite decoupled – natural variability IPO/NAO Add Dean’s o-2000m temperature picture
- A major future evolution of Argo will be its extension into the deep ocean, profiling beyond 2000 m to the ocean bottom. Deep Argo floats are being developed, and successful deployments have been carried out using 4000 and 6000 m designs. A CTD with improved sensor stability needed for abyssal measurement is under parallel development. Objectives of Deep Argo, in combination with satellite missions including altimetry and gravity, will include closure of the sea level, ocean mass, and energy budgets on regional and global scales. Deep Argo will also provide new information on ocean circulation and water mass formation and properties, as well as many other new applications. For ocean data assimilation modeling, Deep Argo will mitigate the lack of observations below 2000 m.
- A major future evolution of Argo will be its extension into the deep ocean, profiling beyond 2000 m to the ocean bottom. Deep Argo floats are being developed, and successful deployments have been carried out using 4000 and 6000 m designs. A CTD with improved sensor stability needed for abyssal measurement is under parallel development. Objectives of Deep Argo, in combination with satellite missions including altimetry and gravity, will include closure of the sea level, ocean mass, and energy budgets on regional and global scales. Deep Argo will also provide new information on ocean circulation and water mass formation and properties, as well as many other new applications. For ocean data assimilation modeling, Deep Argo will mitigate the lack of observations below 2000 m.
- A major future evolution of Argo will be its extension into the deep ocean, profiling beyond 2000 m to the ocean bottom. Deep Argo floats are being developed, and successful deployments have been carried out using 4000 and 6000 m designs. A CTD with improved sensor stability needed for abyssal measurement is under parallel development. Objectives of Deep Argo, in combination with satellite missions including altimetry and gravity, will include closure of the sea level, ocean mass, and energy budgets on regional and global scales. Deep Argo will also provide new information on ocean circulation and water mass formation and properties, as well as many other new applications. For ocean data assimilation modeling, Deep Argo will mitigate the lack of observations below 2000 m.
- A major future evolution of Argo will be its extension into the deep ocean, profiling beyond 2000 m to the ocean bottom. Deep Argo floats are being developed, and successful deployments have been carried out using 4000 and 6000 m designs. A CTD with improved sensor stability needed for abyssal measurement is under parallel development. Objectives of Deep Argo, in combination with satellite missions including altimetry and gravity, will include closure of the sea level, ocean mass, and energy budgets on regional and global scales. Deep Argo will also provide new information on ocean circulation and water mass formation and properties, as well as many other new applications. For ocean data assimilation modeling, Deep Argo will mitigate the lack of observations below 2000 m.
- A major future evolution of Argo will be its extension into the deep ocean, profiling beyond 2000 m to the ocean bottom. Deep Argo floats are being developed, and successful deployments have been carried out using 4000 and 6000 m designs. A CTD with improved sensor stability needed for abyssal measurement is under parallel development. Objectives of Deep Argo, in combination with satellite missions including altimetry and gravity, will include closure of the sea level, ocean mass, and energy budgets on regional and global scales. Deep Argo will also provide new information on ocean circulation and water mass formation and properties, as well as many other new applications. For ocean data assimilation modeling, Deep Argo will mitigate the lack of observations below 2000 m.
- A major future evolution of Argo will be its extension into the deep ocean, profiling beyond 2000 m to the ocean bottom. Deep Argo floats are being developed, and successful deployments have been carried out using 4000 and 6000 m designs. A CTD with improved sensor stability needed for abyssal measurement is under parallel development. Objectives of Deep Argo, in combination with satellite missions including altimetry and gravity, will include closure of the sea level, ocean mass, and energy budgets on regional and global scales. Deep Argo will also provide new information on ocean circulation and water mass formation and properties, as well as many other new applications. For ocean data assimilation modeling, Deep Argo will mitigate the lack of observations below 2000 m.
- A second major evolution of Argo is the addition of biological and biogeochemical sensors on Argo floats. About 200 Argo floats already carry dissolved oxygen, and funded initiatives in several nations will add nitrate, pH, and bio-optical sensors to a subset of Argo floats. Challenges include ongoing improvement in sensor stability and development of data management protocols, especially for delayed-mode quality control.