On this day in history...
...in 1999, the first Argo float was deployed in the Tasman Sea, marking the beginning of the Argo program—an international initiative that transformed global ocean observation. These autonomous floats, designed to measure temperature, salinity, and pressure profiles from the surface to 2,000 meters depth, provide critical data for understanding the physical state of the oceans and their role in the Earth's climate system.
The program's ambitious goal was to deploy thousands of floats worldwide, creating a real-time, high-resolution dataset of the upper ocean. Since its inception, Argo has grown into one of the most successful global ocean observing systems, contributing invaluable data to oceanography, weather prediction, and climate science.
This first float symbolized a new era in ocean monitoring, enabling scientists to track ocean changes on a global scale with unprecedented accuracy and temporal coverage. Today, Argo continues to expand, incorporating biogeochemical sensors and extending observations into deeper waters.
The Argo program is named after the mythical Greek ship Argo (captained by Jason) to highlight its complementary relationship with the Jason satellite altimeters. Together, these systems provide a synergistic approach to monitoring the oceans: while Argo offers detailed subsurface data, Jason satellites measure sea surface height, enabling a comprehensive understanding of ocean circulation and heat storage.
The picture was produced by Wood Hole Oceanographic Institution.
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