The scientific rationale, design and implementation plan for a Biogeochemical-Argo float array ...

• Main Author: Biogeochemical-Argo Planning Group
• Format: Text
• Language: unknown
• Published: Ifremer 2016
• Subjects: Ocean acidification
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.13155/46601; https://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00355/46601/

Biogeochemical-Argo is the extension of the Argo array of profiling floats to include floats that are equipped with biogeochemical sensors for pH, oxygen, nitrate, chlorophyll, suspended particles, and downwelling irradiance. Argo is a highly regarded, international program that measures the changing ocean temperature (heat content) and salinity with profiling floats distributed throughout the ocean. Newly developed sensors now allow profiling floats to also observe biogeochemical properties with sufficient accuracy for climate studies. This extension of Argo will enable an observing system that can determine the seasonal to decadal-scale variability in biological productivity, the supply of essential plant nutrients from deep-waters to the sunlit surface layer, ocean acidification, hypoxia, and ocean uptake of CO2. Biogeochemical-Argo will drive a transformative shift in our ability to observe and predict the effects of climate change on ocean metabolism, carbon uptake, and living marine resource ...