Note from the editors
Dear readers,
Following the success of previous editions, we are delighted to announce the release of the 8th BGC-Argo newsletter, marking the beginning of 2024. This edition features a slightly shorter format, allowing us to publish newsletters more frequently throughout the year.
In this issue, we invite you to explore the top achievements of late 2023 and the exciting prospects for 2024, including updates on the GO-BGC project and the new SCOR working group on 4D-BGC products.
Enjoy reading and stay connected with us on social networks @bgc_argo and, if you haven't already done so, you can subscribe to the Biogeochemical-Argo newsletter here. Hervé Claustre & Ken Johnson
co-chairs of the Biogeochemical-Argo mission
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Training Course on Principles and Applications
of BGC-Argo
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The international POGO training course on "Principles and Applications of BGC-Argo" hosted by the Second Institute of Oceanography ( SIO) and funded by the State Key Laboratory of Satellite Ocean Environment Dynamics ( SOED), took place in Hangzhou, China, from November 15th to 20th, 2023.
Over six days, about 20 attendees addressed diverse topics covering BGC-Argo floats, data quality control, processing, and analysis. Beyond its educational focus, this meeting provided a valuable platform for participants to connect with international experts, exploring the wide range of application of this data in marine ecosystem dynamics, biogeochemistry, remote sensing, and numerical ocean modeling.
The event was a rich learning experience for participants from countries in Asia and Africa but also served as an excellent opportunity to foster collaborations among POGO members in China and the United States. Congratulations to all the participants for this success! |
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Updates from the GO-BGC Project
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The GO-BGC project plans to deploy 500 floats worldwide. Currently, 145 floats are already operational, and 11 more are on their way for deployment in the South Atlantic (GO-SHIP A13.5 cruise). These floats complement SOCCOM deployments in the Southern Ocean, expanding the BGC network to 280 units equipped with 5 or 6 BGC sensors. Recent milestones include the deployment of two new 6-sensor float models: MRV BGC-S2A and Sea-Bird Navis Nautilus. |
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GO-BGC also continues to sponsor BGC-Argo webinars in collaboration with the
US-OCB program. The January 31 webinar showcased talks by early career scientists. Ellen Park (WHOI) presented on "Quantifying biological carbon pump parameters from the global BGC-Argo float array" and Adam Stoer (Dalhousie University) discussed "Estimating marine phytoplankton biomass and productivity from BGC-Argo floats". Recordings of all webinars can be viewed here for a limited time after each event. |
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Assessment of Float-pH Data Quality Control Methods:
A Case Study in the Subpolar Northwest Atlantic Ocean
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BGC-Argo floats enable the independent and continuous measurement of the marine CO2 system. Various pH sensors have been designed to suit these autonomous measurement platforms. Different reference models, including LIR-pH (with OA adjustment), CANYON-B, ESPER-LIR, and ESPER-NN, are now accessible. In our study, a comparison of these models was conducted. The accompanying figure visually represents our findings, emphasizing the spatial distribution, differences, and key statistics related to the estimated pH at 1500 m-depth. By applying these methods specifically to data acquired in the subpolar North Atlantic Ocean, we were also able to report the uncertainty and lack of objective criteria associated with the choice of the reference method, as well as the reference depth for pH correction.
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New SCOR working group - 4D-BGC: Coordinating the Development of Gridded Four-Dimensional Data Products from BGC-Argo Observations
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The 4D-BGC SCOR working group (WG #168) is chaired by Raphaëlle Sauzède (France) and Jonathan Sharp (USA) and is composed of 19 other members, representing 14 different countries. The main goals are to:
- Establish connections among four-dimensional (4D) biogeochemical data product developers, observational communities, and data synthesis efforts, as well as end-user communities.
- Compile an inventory of 4D-BGC products and suggest relevant applications.
- Synthesize available estimates, variabilities, and trends of key biogeochemical processes that can be refined by 4D-BGC products and identify actions to improve quantifications.
- Develop recommendations to create, distribute, and dynamically update 4D-BGC products, as well as strategies to estimate uncertainties from grid-cell to global scales.
- Build capacity within the oceanographic community, especially among early career researchers and within underrepresented groups, to ensure 4D-BGC product development and usage are sustained and supported.
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Journey with Ocean Observers :
The Comic Book for Young Minds
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Discover the thousands of instruments at sea taking the pulse of the ocean! Follow a new recruit to the ocean observing networks - a communication satellite - on their journey to understand what is happening in our ocean and how we observe and monitor it. You will learn about marine heatwaves, ocean acidification, sea level rise, and other phenomena. Meet BGC-Argo floats, gliders, buoys, ships, gauges, radars, and marine mammals! Discover how these instruments collaborate to understand climate change, monitor ocean health, and enhance weather predictions.
This book is part of the Ocean Observers initiative. The Ocean Observers initiative is jointly led by OceanOPS and Euro-Argo ERIC and supported by EuroSea Project. |
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Focus on BGC-Argo Webpages
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Recent floats deployed
Via the home page, the recently deployed float with their main characteristic (sensors, WMO, location) are accessible (Green button at the lower left corner). This table also lists the whole deployment history over the last 21 years. This archive corresponds to the updated map. |
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BGC-Argo profiles on February 2024
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Active Sensors
In addition to the number of profiles per year, the number of BGC-Argo core sensors/variables that have been or are still active for the present year is is available in the footer of the entire site. See below. |
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