JCOMMOPS & Argo, DBCP, SOT, OceanSITES

2 nd GODAE Observing System Evaluation Workshop Toulouse, June 2009

Mathieu Belbeoch & Hester Viola

Aims 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 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) 3

Developments 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.

JCOMMOPS, 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 5

JCOMMOPS 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

, [email protected]

• • • • http://argo.jcommops.org

http://dbcp.jcommops.org

http://sot.jcommops.org

http://oceansites.jcommops.org

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Argo 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 7

Argo Status: what has been achieved ?

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 8

Argo Status: network density

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

Argo Status: deployment plans

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. 10

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

5% 3% 3% 3% 2% 6% 7% 56% 11% A dozen countries are sustaining the global network, another dozen takes care of regional gaps, and many other are supporting Argo.

USA JAPAN AUSTRALIA GERMANY France KOREA UK CANADA INDIA NETHERLANDS CHINA EU ARGENTINA CHILE NEW ZEALAND IRELAND BRAZIL NORWAY ECUADOR MAURITIUS SPAIN RUSSIAN FED.

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Argo = logistical challenge

2000 2001

Total 116 295

600 500 400 300 200 100 0 2002

452

2003

672

2004

869

2005

1008

2006 2007 2008

933 747 848

Pacific Ocean Atlantic Ocean Indian Ocean Arctic Ocean Mediterranean Sea Southern Ocean (< -45°) 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 6344 units deployed !

Ship time is an issue: Sustained funding and cooperation critical 12

Argo = 100 000+ profiles / year

• #All Profiles 562230 • #DM Profiles 289774 • 90% optimal quality (but not for all applications) • 90 % reach the GTS/GDACs within 24h 13

Argo: QC issues

• Salinity Drift: bio-fooling and others reasons DMQC (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 … 14

Argo: QC issues

• DM QC time consuming activity (resources required): 67% achieved 15

Argo is revolutionizing global oceanography ...

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

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Argo benefits

• Operational use: requirements for long term 14 Operational Centres using Argo data • Research applications growing • Training Workshops Capacity building initiatives on data use • Argo has enormous potential value in 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.

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Argo Float Technology: float reliability improving

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

Deployment failure rate: 2.5 % • • • Still room for improvement: all floats do not reach yet the 4 years lifetime This target will likely be reached and exceeded 18 This will help to fill gaps … without deploying more floats

Argo Float Technology: Telecom. slowly improving

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

Argo Float Technology: Cycles rather homogeneous

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

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Argo Float Technology: new designs, new sensors

• 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.

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

Argo 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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48%

Initial Global Ocean Observing System for Climate

Status against the GCOS Implementation Plan and JCOMM targets Total in situ networks

61%

February 2009 87% 100% 59% 34% 73% 81% 100% 62%

Milestones Drifters 2005 Argo 2007

Progress Toward Global Coverage (representative milestones) 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 Tide Gauges Surface Drifting Buoys 51 807 56 671 57 779 57 787 59 61 71 85 101 955 1250 1307 1235 1300 Tropical Moored Buoys 67 67 69 69 73 75 82 94 96 Ships of Opportunity Argo Floats Reference Stations 23 20 15 24 26 26 27 39 39 41 41 31 19 544 25 923 27 1572 2240 2557 3055 3283 28 34 35 37 38 Arctic System Ocean Carbon Network 19 0 19 20 20 17 16 32 55 69 0 1 5 9 15 17 20 23 Initial Ocean Observing System Milestones Initial Targets Total System 30 30 34 34 40 40 44 45 48 2000 2001 2002 2003 48 2004 53 60 66 55 2005 56 59 2006 2007 77 60 2008

Goal

170 Real-time Stations Initial GCOS Subset 1250 Number of buoys 132 51 Number of moorings High resolution and frequently repeated lines occupied 3000 Number of floats 87 73 37 Number of observatories, flux, and ocean transport stations Ice buoys, drifting and Moored stations Repeat Sections Committed, One inventory per 10 years 100 Goal System % Complete Index

JCOMMOPS Status Map

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