NR-HQ-01-21E

Dhaliwal announces Fisheries and Oceans Canada to host International Conference promoting Robotics and Satellite Technology in monitoring the Oceans's impact on climate change

March 20, 2001

VICTORIA, BC – Fisheries and Oceans Canada is proud to host the International Argo Science Team, a global effort to collect and share information on the temperature, currents, and salinity of the world’s oceans. More than 40 delegates representing 14 countries and two international science organizations, North Pacific Marine Science Organization (PICES) and Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission/World Meteorological Organization (IOC/WMO), are to attend the conference at the Institute of Ocean Sciences, one of the department’s four premier science research facilities, March 20-22, 2001.

Data collected by a global array of floating robotic devices will be used to better predict the influence of events such as El Nino and La Nina on our seasonal climate. Since weather and climate are linked to the ocean, data from the floating observing systems will help Environment Canada conduct long-term seasonal forecasts.

"Canada is proud to join our international partners in this exciting project," said Minister Dhaliwal. "This comprehensive observing system, when integrated with our existing marine atmospheric and terrestrial information, will help us to build better climate models to more accurately predict changes that could impact our marine ecosystem."

The Argo robotic devices will sample, analyze and provide information on the deep velocities of the ocean, near surface velocities, and temperature and salinity between the deep level and the surface. Once an Argo device is deployed at the ocean surface, it readjusts its buoyancy and sinks to a depth of 2000 metres. After drifting in the deep ocean current for 10 days, the float readjusts, floats to the surface, and takes measurements during its ascent. Once the float surfaces, it begins to transmit data to land-based receiving stations via a tracking satellite for 12 hours. Then it returns to its deep "parking" depth of 2000 metres. Each float has a lifespan of approximately five years.

"When data collected from the Argo network is integrated with meteorological seasonal forecast models, the results will allow us to forecast in time scales of six months to one year," said Dr. Laura Richards, Regional Director of Science for Fisheries and Oceans Canada. "The benefits of a nine month weather forecast would be immense. Imagine the impact this could have on ski-slope operators or the entire agriculture industry."

This May, 677 robotic ocean floats will be deployed by ship or aircraft around the world. Project Argo – named in honour of the mythological vessel in which Jason went in search of the golden fleece – will provide for the first time a comprehensive oceans observing system. Canada has committed to providing 52 floats to the Argo network this year – 46 in the Northeast Pacific and six in the Northwest Atlantic. Countries participating in this project include: USA, Japan, France, Germany, Australia, the European community, Brazil, South Africa, India, China, New Zealand, Republic of Korea, and Spain.

The Argo team – dubbed Argonauts – have determined 3000 floats are needed for the full global observing array. The goal is to have the entire network of floats drifting and bobbing throughout the world’s oceans by 2003. The data will be sent back in real time, making it immediately available to all countries including those currently not represented on the Argo team.

The Canadian contribution to Argo is funded and implemented by Fisheries and Oceans Canada.

For additional information on Argo, visit their Web site: http://www.argo.ucsd.edu/