MedArgo: a drifting profiler program in the Mediterranean Sea

In the framework of the EU-funded MFSTEP project, autonomous drifting profilers were deployed throughout the Mediterranean Sea to collect temperature and salinity profile data and to measure subsurface currents. The realization of this profiler program in the Mediterranean, referred to as MedArgo, i...

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Main Authors: P.-M. Poulain, R. Barbanti, J. Font, A. Cruzado, C. Millot, I. Gertman, A. Griffa, A. Molcard, V. Rupolo, S. Le Bras, L. Petit de la Villeon
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Copernicus Publications 2007-08-01
Series:Ocean Science
Online Access:http://www.ocean-sci.net/3/379/2007/os-3-379-2007.pdf
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spelling doaj-b05738d356e44d62a0438d4ba049fcad2020-11-25T01:50:52ZengCopernicus PublicationsOcean Science1812-07841812-07922007-08-0133379395MedArgo: a drifting profiler program in the Mediterranean SeaP.-M. PoulainR. BarbantiJ. FontA. CruzadoC. MillotI. GertmanA. GriffaA. MolcardV. RupoloS. Le BrasL. Petit de la VilleonIn the framework of the EU-funded MFSTEP project, autonomous drifting profilers were deployed throughout the Mediterranean Sea to collect temperature and salinity profile data and to measure subsurface currents. The realization of this profiler program in the Mediterranean, referred to as MedArgo, is described and assessed using data collected between June 2004 and December 2006 (including more than 2000 profiles). Recommendations are provided for the permanent future implementation of MedArgo in support of operational oceanography in the Mediterranean Sea. <br><br> More than twenty drifting profilers were deployed from research vessels and ships-of-opportunity in most areas of the Mediterranean. They were all programmed to execute 5-day cycles with a drift at a parking depth of 350 m and CTD profiles from either 700 or 2000 m up to the surface. They stayed at the sea surface for about 6 h to be localised by, and transmit the data to, the Argos satellite system. The temperature and salinity data obtained with pumped Sea-Bird CTD instruments were processed and made available to the scientific community and to operational users in near-real time using standard Argo protocols, and were assimilated into Mediterranean numerical forecasting models. <br><br> In general, the cycling and sampling characteristics chosen for the MedArgo profilers were found to be adequate for the Mediterranean. However, it is strongly advised to use GPS and global cellular phone telemetry or the future Argos bi-directional satellite system in order to avoid data compression and losses, for the continuation of the Mediterranean drifting profiler program. http://www.ocean-sci.net/3/379/2007/os-3-379-2007.pdf
collection DOAJ
language English
format Article
sources DOAJ
author P.-M. Poulain
R. Barbanti
J. Font
A. Cruzado
C. Millot
I. Gertman
A. Griffa
A. Molcard
V. Rupolo
S. Le Bras
L. Petit de la Villeon
spellingShingle P.-M. Poulain
R. Barbanti
J. Font
A. Cruzado
C. Millot
I. Gertman
A. Griffa
A. Molcard
V. Rupolo
S. Le Bras
L. Petit de la Villeon
MedArgo: a drifting profiler program in the Mediterranean Sea
Ocean Science
author_facet P.-M. Poulain
R. Barbanti
J. Font
A. Cruzado
C. Millot
I. Gertman
A. Griffa
A. Molcard
V. Rupolo
S. Le Bras
L. Petit de la Villeon
author_sort P.-M. Poulain
title MedArgo: a drifting profiler program in the Mediterranean Sea
title_short MedArgo: a drifting profiler program in the Mediterranean Sea
title_full MedArgo: a drifting profiler program in the Mediterranean Sea
title_fullStr MedArgo: a drifting profiler program in the Mediterranean Sea
title_full_unstemmed MedArgo: a drifting profiler program in the Mediterranean Sea
title_sort medargo: a drifting profiler program in the mediterranean sea
publisher Copernicus Publications
series Ocean Science
issn 1812-0784
1812-0792
publishDate 2007-08-01
description In the framework of the EU-funded MFSTEP project, autonomous drifting profilers were deployed throughout the Mediterranean Sea to collect temperature and salinity profile data and to measure subsurface currents. The realization of this profiler program in the Mediterranean, referred to as MedArgo, is described and assessed using data collected between June 2004 and December 2006 (including more than 2000 profiles). Recommendations are provided for the permanent future implementation of MedArgo in support of operational oceanography in the Mediterranean Sea. <br><br> More than twenty drifting profilers were deployed from research vessels and ships-of-opportunity in most areas of the Mediterranean. They were all programmed to execute 5-day cycles with a drift at a parking depth of 350 m and CTD profiles from either 700 or 2000 m up to the surface. They stayed at the sea surface for about 6 h to be localised by, and transmit the data to, the Argos satellite system. The temperature and salinity data obtained with pumped Sea-Bird CTD instruments were processed and made available to the scientific community and to operational users in near-real time using standard Argo protocols, and were assimilated into Mediterranean numerical forecasting models. <br><br> In general, the cycling and sampling characteristics chosen for the MedArgo profilers were found to be adequate for the Mediterranean. However, it is strongly advised to use GPS and global cellular phone telemetry or the future Argos bi-directional satellite system in order to avoid data compression and losses, for the continuation of the Mediterranean drifting profiler program.
url http://www.ocean-sci.net/3/379/2007/os-3-379-2007.pdf
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