JCOMMOPS

1
JCOMMOPS Argo, DBCP, SOT, OceanSITES

• 2nd GODAE Observing System Evaluation Workshop
  Toulouse, June 2009
• Mathieu Belbeoch Hester Viola

2
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 ...

3
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)

4
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.
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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

6
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 , support_at_jcommops.org
• http//argo.jcommops.org
• http//dbcp.jcommops.org
• http//sot.jcommops.org
• http//oceansites.jcommops.org

7
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

8
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 60N and
  60S, no marginal seas)is NOT YET ACHIEVED
• 600 floats are required in the southern hemisphere

9
Argo Status network density
Float density (1004 floats) good floats
onlyChallenge in South Indian, and South Atlantic
10
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.
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Argo is the most internationally collaborative
program in the history of oceanography
A dozen countries are sustaining the global
network, another dozen takes care of regional
gaps, and many other are supporting Argo.
12
Argo logistical challenge
6344 units deployed !
Ship time is an issue Sustained funding and
cooperation critical
13
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

14
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 gt educate users
• Recent problem on SBE CTD pressure most of new
  deployments will be postponed

15
Argo QC issues

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

16
Argo is revolutionizing global oceanography ...
2000 -2008 August XBT profiles(gt 300m, source
WOD)
1951-2000 August hydrographic T/S stations (gt
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 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.

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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
• This will help to fill gaps without
  deploying more floats

19
Argo Float Technology Telecom. slowly improving
8 of deployments with Iridium (2007, 2008)
Argos 3 pilot projects started More are
anticipated in 2009 (Australia)
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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
gt 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.

Left to right SOLO/SOLO-II w/Iridium, ARVOR,
PROVOR w/optical sensor, APEX w/SBE oxygen sensor.
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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 arrays design requirements.
• Extend instrument capabilities for profiling to
  2000 m everywhere in the oceans.
• Sustain funding (Argo is 20 underfunded)
• What should be Argos 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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Initial Global Ocean Observing System for Climate
Status against the GCOS Implementation Plan and
JCOMM targets
Total in situ networks
February 2009
61
87
100
59
81
100
62
73
34
48
Milestones Drifters 2005 Argo 2007
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Progress Toward Global Coverage (representative
milestones)
Goal
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2006
2005
2007
2008
Real-time Stations Initial GCOS Subset
170
101
85
Tide Gauges
71
61
57
57
59
56
51
1250
1250
1300
1235
1307
807
779
787
671
Number of buoys
955
Surface Drifting Buoys
132
94
96
Number of moorings
75
82
Tropical Moored Buoys
69
69
67
73
67
High resolution and frequently repeated lines
occupied
51
41
41
39
39
Ships of Opportunity
27
26
26
24
23
3055
3000
3283
Number of floats
20
31
544
2240
2557
Argo Floats
1572
923
Number of observatories, flux, and ocean
transport stations
87
35
28
34
38
15
25
27
Reference Stations
19
37
Ice buoys, drifting and Moored stations
73
16
17
20
20
19
19
Arctic System
32
69
55
37
Repeat Sections Committed, One inventory per 10
years
20
23
Ocean Carbon Network
1
0
0
15
17
5
9
Initial Ocean Observing System Milestones
44
48
53
60
66
77
30
34
40
Initial Targets
100
System Complete Index
60
45
59
40
30
34
Total System
55
56
48
2001
2002
Goal
2000
2003
2004
2006
2005
2007
2008
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JCOMMOPS Status Map