JCOMMOPS JCOMMOPS & Argo, DBCP, SOT, OceanSITES& Argo, DBCP, SOT, OceanSITES

2nd GODAE Observing System Evaluation Workshop Toulouse, June 2009

Mathieu Belbeoch & Hester Viola

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Aims of JCOMMOPSAims of JCOMMOPS

The JCOMM In-situ Observing Platform Support Centre is a component of the international coordination mechanism, which aims on behalf of JCOMM to:

– assist as appropriate in the implementation of the GOOS– develop synergies between observing systems – assist in the planning, implementation and operations of the observing systems – monitor and evaluate the performance of the networks– encourage cooperation between communities and member states– encourage data sharing – assist in data distribution on the Internet and GTS– relay user feedback on data quality to platform operators– encourage harmonization of data and instrumentation related practices– provide technical assistance and user support worldwide– act as a clearing house and focal point on all program aspects

Assistance, Monitoring, Cooperation ...

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Technical CoordinationTechnical Coordination

• JCOMMOPS comprises two Technical Coordinators, a ½ time IT person, plus occasionally students on work experience.

• Office & Information System hosted by CLS, Toulouse• Funded through national voluntary contributions (via IOC/WMO)

• JCOMMOPS is involved with the implementation of different types of in situ observing systems including:

– Drifting and moored buoys in the high seas and tropical moorings (DBCP)– XBTs, TSGs, atmospheric soundings from ships, meteorological observations from

ships (SOT)– Profiling floats (Argo)– Deep ocean time-series reference stations (OceanSITES)

• Other programs are supported to a basic level … no resources to sustain this support (Ice tethered profilers, marine mammals, GLOSS)

Developments and reporting toolsDevelopments and reporting tools

• Interactive maps– Web Map Viewer

(GIS)– Google Earth– Google Maps– PDF Layers

RT status of the arrays, data distribution status,monitoring products, official platform database (metadata QCed by TCs), routine exports (text, XML), etc.

You need information on a platform, a statistic, a map, etc ... just ask JCOMMOPS.

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JCOMMOPS, Argo, DBCP ... & GODAE OSEJCOMMOPS, Argo, DBCP ... & GODAE OSE

• Feedback from data users on requirements (networks design, data issues, ...)– Argo Science Workshops– OceanObs’ 09– Presence at key meetings (next ADMT in Toulouse ...)– Products ?

• Routine feedback from operational centres on data quality: tools to be developed and maintained

– DBCP/SOT operational system– Argo being developed (e. g. Altimetry QC by CLS/Coriolis)– JCOMMOPS acts as a centralized relay tool: data users – data producers – Ideas ?

• JCOMMOPS can help to design, finalize and promote products

• Continuous demonstration of the value of the arrays– Specific impact studies

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JCOMMOPS ChallengesJCOMMOPS Challenges

• Clarify access to information and develop a web based toolbox that will be useful in future: “MyJCOMMOPS”

• Strengthen the infrastructure• Fund a new position to work on ships related information

• http://www.jcommops.org , support@jcommops.org

• http://argo.jcommops.org• http://dbcp.jcommops.org • http://sot.jcommops.org• http://oceansites.jcommops.org

Argo InfrastructureArgo Infrastructure

Argo is internationally managed by the Argo Steering Team.2 co-chairs, National Argo programmes representatives, TC

• Argo Data Management team coordinates data issues

• Argo Data Management is a distributed system– National Data Centres (DACs) feed GTS of WMO and Internet GDACs– REAL TIME ( GTS, GDACs) with standard/automatic QC– DELAYED-MODE files replace RT files (GDACs, after 6-12 months)

• 2 Global Data Centres (USA, FR) - mirrored

• Regional Centres being developed

• Long term archival centre at US NODC

• Argo Information Centre/JCOMMOPS/Argo Project Office

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Argo Status: what has been achieved ?Argo Status: what has been achieved ?

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Argo has achieved the “3000 floats milestone” with global distribution and a comprehensive data management system

• Argo Core Mission (3200 floats between 60°N and 60°S, no marginal seas)is NOT YET ACHIEVED

• 600 floats are required in the southern hemisphere

Argo Status: network densityArgo Status: network density

9Float density (100%=4 floats): good floats onlyChallenge in South Indian, and South Atlantic

Argo Status: deployment plansArgo Status: deployment plans

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Argo groups are making substantial efforts to plan their deployments and optimize the array coverage taking into account network density /age.

Implementing an empty ocean ≠ maintaining a global array.

All deployments are registered on line from a draft state to the final confirmation/notification.

Argo is the most internationally collaborative programArgo is the most internationally collaborative program in the history of oceanography in the history of oceanography

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A dozen countries are sustaining the global network, another dozen takes care of regional gaps, and many other are supporting Argo.

Argo = logistical challengeArgo = logistical challenge

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2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008Total 116 295 452 672 869 1008 933 747 848

Ship time is an issue:Sustained funding and cooperation critical

6344 units deployed !

Argo = Argo = 100 000+ profiles / year100 000+ profiles / year

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• #All Profiles 562230• #DM Profiles 289774

• 90% optimal quality (but not for all applications)• 90 % reach the GTS/GDACs within 24h

Argo: QC issuesArgo: QC issues

• Salinity Drift: bio-fooling and others reasonsDMQC (dedicated working group)Comparison with CTD data, and nearby float data

• Accuracy of temperature versus pressure– Applications of Argo data for climate change issues requires

highest quality possible (heat content, steric sea level change).– Years required to detect small biases (comparison with CTD)– Free data => educate users

• Recent problem on SBE CTD pressure: most of new deployments will be postponed …

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Argo: QC issuesArgo: QC issues

• DM QC time consuming activity (resources required): 67% achieved

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Argo is revolutionizing global oceanography ...Argo is revolutionizing global oceanography ...

16 ... and its impact will be greatest in the southern hemisphere where there are large climate signals and there is little historical data.

2000 -2008 August XBT profiles(> 300m, source: WOD)

1951-2000 August hydrographic T/S stations (> 1000m, source: WOD)

2004-2008 August Argo T,S profiles

Argo benefitsArgo benefits

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• Operational use: requirements for long term 14 Operational Centres using Argo data

• Research applications growing

• Training WorkshopsCapacity building initiatives on data use

• Argo has enormous potential valuein education applications.

• Google Ocean & Argo partnership

network status (gateway)products (T, S, anomalies)

stories by oceanographers climate change focus

• To be extended to other networks monitored by JCOMMOPS.

Argo Float Technology: float reliability improvingArgo Float Technology: float reliability improving

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• Still room for improvement: all floats do not reach yet the 4 years lifetime• This target will likely be reached and exceeded• This will help to fill gaps … without deploying more floats

45% of floats deployed in 2004 are still active at age 4+ years.

Deployment failure rate: 2.5 %

Argo Float Technology: Telecom. slowly improving Argo Float Technology: Telecom. slowly improving

19~8% of deployments with Iridium (2007, 2008) – Argos 3 pilot projects startedMore are anticipated in 2009 (Australia)

Argo Float Technology: Cycles rather homogeneousArgo Float Technology: Cycles rather homogeneous

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80% of the fleet is set up to drift at 1000 dbar as decided by the AST

70 % to profile at a depth > 1500 dbar

80 % to cycle on a 9-11 days basis

Argo Float Technology: new designs, new sensorsArgo Float Technology: new designs, new sensors

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• New generation floats are longer-lived, smaller, and more capable.

• Extended domains are being explored or considered: under ice, marginal seas, boundary currents, abyssal ocean.

• New sensors are being developed and tested (oxygen, bio-optical, surface layer, …)

• At present ~150 Argo floats carry dissolved oxygen sensors.

• First floats are providing SST (at no cost). This is likely to be extended to all floats.

Left to right: SOLO/SOLO-II w/Iridium, ARVOR, PROVOR w/optical sensor, APEX w/SBE oxygen sensor.

Argo ObjectivesArgo Objectives

Objectives for the Argo Program in the coming years related to array performance are:

• Achieve mean float lifetimes of 4 years or longer, needed to sustain the core Argo array with 800 floats deployed per year.

• Deploy more floats in the southern hemisphere to achieve the array’s design requirements.

• Extend instrument capabilities for profiling to 2000 m everywhere in the oceans.

• Sustain funding (Argo is 20% underfunded)

• What should be Argo‘s sampling plan for high latitudes or marginal seas ?

• Should Argo sample the deep ocean ?

• Should Argo be denser in all WBC regions ?

• ....

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87%

Total in situ networks February 200961%

59%

81%

62%73%34%48%

Initial Global Ocean Observing System for Climate Status against the GCOS Implementation Plan and JCOMM targets

100%

100%

MilestonesDrifters 2005

Argo 2007

12501250

7575

3939

22402240

1515

6161

6969

2626

923923

55

5757

6969

2626

5757

6767

2424

5656

955955

7373

2727

15721572

99

5959

12351235

9494

4141

30553055

3737

6969

2020

8585

12501250

132132

5151

30003000

8787

3737

170170

7373

13001300

9696

4141

32833283

3838

2323

101101

13071307

8282

3939

25572557

5555

1717

7171

6767

2323

5151

20002000 20012001 20022002 20032003 20042004 2006200620052005 20072007 20082008 GoalGoal

Initial Ocean Observing System Milestones

Tide GaugesReal-time StationsInitial GCOS Subset

Surface Drifting Buoys

Tropical Moored Buoys

Ships of Opportunity

Argo Floats

Reference Stations

Arctic System

Ocean Carbon Network

High resolution and frequentlyrepeated lines occupied

Number of floats

Number of moorings

Number of buoys

Repeat Sections Committed,One inventory per 10 years

Number of observatories, flux,and ocean transport stations

Ice buoys, drifting andMoored stations

807807 671671 779779 787787

2020 3131 544544

1515 1919 2525 2727 2828

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55554848 5959100100

60605656Total System 3030 3434 4040 4545

20002000 20012001 20022002 20032003 20042004 2006200620052005 20072007 20082008 GoalGoal

System % CompleteIndex

3434 3535

323217172020202019191919

00 00

Progress Toward Global Coverage (representative milestones)

4444 4848 5353 6060 6666 77773030 3434 4040Initial TargetsInitial Targets

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JCOMMOPS Status Map