Argo Float Program

BIO is one of the DFO oceanographic labs which contribute to the International Argo program. This program has over 3000 subsurface floats drifting in the world's ocean, and relaying temperature and salinity profiles from 2000m to the surface via satellite.

The Ocean Sciences Division deploys floats in the NW Atlantic each year as part of the Canadian Argo program, and uses data from the international array in its monitoring of the ocean climate variability of the NW Atlantic.

Location of Argo floats (red) in the NW Atlantic as of 30 April 2009, with AZMP and AZOMP lines (black).

Drift trajectories (at 1000m below sea surface) of two Argo float deployed on the AR7W line in the central Labrador Sea.

The development of indices and displays of oceanographic conditions in the NW Atlantic using Argo float data (either alone or with other observations) is underway in the Ocean Sciences Division. See Ocean Climate and Variability: Water Mass Variability in the Labrador Sea.

Time-depth plots of ocean temperature (Left) and salinity (Right) in the central Labrador Sea from Argo floats. Strong seasonal and interannual variability can be seen, including year-to-year changes in the depth of convection (cooling) in winter.

For additional displays of temperature, salinity and density in the Labrador Sea, see Recent Oceanographic Conditions in the Labrador Sea.

For further information, contact AZOMP.