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Argo is a global array of 3,000 free-drifting profiling floats that measure the temperature and salinity of the upper 2,000 meters of the ocean. This allows, for the first time, continuous monitoring of the temperature, salinity, and velocity of the upper ocean, with all data being relayed and made publicly available within hours after collection. The Argo array provides unprecedented views of the evolving physical state of the ocean. It reveals the physical processes that balance the large-scale heat and freshwater budgets of the ocean and provides a crucial data set for initialization of and assimilation in seasonal-to-decadal forecast models. Argo is central to an unprecedented capability for global assessment of the evolving climate state of the ocean. The thermal structure of the upper ocean controls the temperature of the lower atmosphere, and is the primary variable defining the physical environment of ocean ecosystems. Over 90% of the increased heat content due to global warming of the air/sea/ice climate system in the past 40 years occurred in the oceans. Climate stresses on ocean ecosystems have serious consequences, and sometimes dramatic ones, such as coral reef bleaching. In the future, the impacts of a varying climate on the health of the seas and coastal ecosystems will become an increasingly important aspect of resource management. The unique niche of the Argo array is to provide global broad-scale observations of the upper ocean. This report covers Year 5 of the 5-year project, and builds on progress made by previous awards (Phases 1 and 2) for pilot float arrays, data systems development, and international coordination. In 2006, 400 CTD profiling floats were deployed. Float deployments targeted the Atlantic, Pacific, Indian, and Southern Oceans. Developments in 2006 included deployment of operational floats employing Iridium telecommunications and deployment of floats equipped with oxygen sensors., A National Oceanographic Partnership Program Award. Award Numbers: NA17RJ1231 (SIO), NA17RJ1223 (WHOI). Prepared in cooperation with the School of Oceanography, University of Washington, Seattle WA; the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, MA; NOAA Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory, Miami FL; and the NOAA Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory, Seattle WA. The original document contains color images.

The U.S. component of the international Argo Project (http://www.argo.ucsd.edu) is implemented through this award. The present report covers Year 4 of the 5-year project, and builds on progress made by previous awards (Phases 1 and 2) for pilot float arrays and data system development. By the end of 2006 or early 2007, Argo will have deployed a global array of 3000 profiling CTD floats (Roemmich and Owens, 2000, Roemmich et al, 2002, Gould, 2004), and established a data system to meet the needs of both operational and scientific users for data delivery in real time and delayed mode. The Argo array will provide unprecedented views of the evolving physical state of the ocean. It will reveal the physical processes that balance the large-scale heat and freshwater budgets of the ocean and will provide a crucial dataset for initialization of and assimilation in seasonal-todecadal forecast models. Argo is a major initiative in oceanography, with research and operational objectives, providing a global dataset for climate science and other applications. It is a pilot project of the Global Ocean Observing System., Sponsored in part by grant nos. NA17RJ1231 and NA17RJ1223. Prepared in cooperation with Scripps Institution of Oceanography, La Jolla, CA, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, MA, NOAA Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory, Miami, FL, and NOAA Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory, Seattle, WA.

Argo is a global array of 3,000 free-drifting profiling floats that measure the temperature and salinity of the upper 2,000 meters of the ocean. This allows, for the first time, continuous monitoring of the temperature, salinity, and velocity of the upper ocean, with all data being relayed and made publicly available within hours after collection. The Argo array provides unprecedented views of the evolving physical state of the ocean. It reveals the physical processes that balance the large-scale heat and freshwater budgets of the ocean and provides a crucial data set for initialization of and assimilation in seasonal-to-decadal forecast models. Argo is central to an unprecedented capability for global assessment of the evolving climate state of the ocean. The thermal structure of the upper ocean controls the temperature of the lower atmosphere, and is the primary variable defining the physical environment of ocean ecosystems. Over 90% of the increased heat content due to global warming of the air/sea/ice climate system in the past 40 years occurred in the oceans. Climate stresses on ocean ecosystems have serious consequences, and sometimes dramatic ones, such as coral reef bleaching. In the future, the impacts of a varying climate on the health of the seas and coastal ecosystems will become an increasingly important aspect of resource management. The unique niche of the Argo array is to provide global broad-scale observations of the upper ocean. This report covers Year 4 of the 5-year project, and builds on progress made by previous awards (Phases 1 and 2) for pilot float arrays, data systems development, and international coordination. In 2005, 450 CTD profiling floats were deployed. Float deployments targeted the Atlantic, Pacific, Indian, and Southern Oceans. Developments in 2005 included deployment of the first operational floats employing Iridium telecommunications and deployment of 22 floats equipped with oxygen sensors., A National Oceanographic Partnership Program Award. Award Numbers: NA17RJ1231 (SIO), NA17RJ1223 (WHOI). Prepared in cooperation with the School of Oceanography, University of Washington, Seattle WA; the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, MA; NOAA Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory, Miami FL; and the NOAA Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory, Seattle WA. The original document contains color images.

Argo is a global array of 3,000 free-drifting profiling floats that measure the temperature and salinity of the upper 2,000 meters of the ocean. This allows, for the first time, continuous monitoring of the temperature, salinity, and velocity of the upper ocean, with all data being relayed and made publicly available within hours after collection. The Argo array provides unprecedented views of the evolving physical state of the ocean. It reveals the physical processes that balance the large-scale heat and freshwater budgets of the ocean and provides a crucial data set for initialization of and assimilation in seasonal-to-decadal forecast models. Argo is central to an unprecedented capability for global assessment of the evolving climate state of the ocean. The thermal structure of the upper ocean controls the temperature of the lower atmosphere, and is the primary variable defining the physical environment of ocean ecosystems. Over 90% of the increased heat content due to global warming of the air/sea/ice climate system in the past 40 years occurred in the oceans. Climate stresses on ocean ecosystems have serious consequences, and sometimes dramatic ones, such as coral reef bleaching. In the future, the impacts of a varying climate on the health of the seas and coastal ecosystems will become an increasingly important aspect of resource management. The unique niche of the Argo array is to provide global broad-scale observations of the upper ocean. This report covers Year 3 of the 5-year project, and builds on progress made by previous awards (Phases 1 and 2) for pilot float arrays, data systems development, and international coordination. In 2004, 390 conductivity, temperature, and depth (CTD) profiling floats were deployed. Float deployments targeted the Atlantic, Pacific, Indian, and Southern Oceans., A National Oceanographic Partnership Program Award. Award Numbers: NA17RJ1231 (SIO), NA17RJ1223 (WHOI). Prepared in cooperation with the School of Oceanography, University of Washington, Seattle WA; the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, MA; NOAA Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory, Miami FL; and the NOAA Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory, Seattle WA. The original document contains color images.

Phase 1 (9/99 - 9/02) and Phase 2 (7/00 - 6/02) of US Argo provided a total of 187 CTD profiling floats in the Pacific, Atlantic and Indian Oceans. Objectives were to demonstrate technological capabilities for fabrication and for deployment of float arrays in remote ocean locations (Phase 1) and to demonstrate the capability for manufacture and deployment of large float arrays (Phase 2). Recent technology developments in profiling floats were also implemented, including new generation salinity sensors, improved depth capability, and deployment techniques using fast ships and aircraft. Development of the U.S. Argo Data System was part of Phase 1, on a collaborative basis with international partners. Objectives are to make all Argo data publicly available within a day of collection, applying automated quality control procedures consistent with international Argo practices. Data appropriate for research applications and for comparison with climate change models are not available for several months since they need quality control by salinity experts and evaluation of data over many (10 day) float cycles. Phase 3 is a 5-year project (8/01 - 6/06) including full implementation of the US component of Argo. This report includes Phase 3/Year 2, which deployed 290 CTD profiling floats during CY2003 plus support for these deployments, data management activities and for national and international coordination of Argo. Float deployments targeted the Atlantic, Pacific, Indian, and Southern Oceans. Priorities for US float deployment are set by the US Argo Advisory Panel., A National Oceanographic Partnership Program Award. The original document contains color images. Sponsored in part by WHOI, grant NA-17-RJ-1223.

The U.S. component of the international Argo Project (http://www.argo.ucsd.edu) is implemented through this award. The present report covers Year 1 of the 5-year project, plus cumulative progress from previous awards (Phases 1 and 2) for pilot float arrays and data system development. By 2006, Argo will deploy a global array of 3000 profiling CTD floats (Argo Science Team, 1998, Roemmich and Owens, 2000, Roemmich et al, 2002), and establish a data system to meet the needs of both operational and scientific users. The Argo array will provide unprecedented real-time views of the evolving physical state of the ocean. It will reveal the physical processes that balance the large-scale heat and freshwater budgets of the ocean and will provide a crucial dataset for initialization and assimilation in seasonal-to-decadal forecast models. Argo is a major initiative in oceanography, with research and operational objectives, providing a global dataset for climate science and other applications., A National Oceanographic Partnership Program Award.

Two high-resolution hydrographic sections occupied during February, March 1989 in the western and eastern basins of the North Atlantic at 14.5N are combined to study the water mass structure and meridional mass and heat transports. Absolute velocities were determined using these data and an earlier section at 8N in a linear inverse analysis. Mass balance for several layers representing the main water masses in the region and a zero net divergence for the sum of geostrophic and Ekman transport between the two sections are assumed. Using the annual mean of Ekman transports (13.6 Sv, 14.5N), (15.2 Sv, 8N) based on the climatology by Isemer and Hasse (1985) the annual average fluxes for the sections at 8N and 14.5N have been calculated. For the annual mean the strength of the meridional overturning cell at 14.5N amounts to 15.9 Sv with an associated heat transport of 1.22 PW. A similar value can be obtained at 8N where the annual mean heat transport reaches 1.18 PW and the overturning cell measures 15 Sv. The total northward heat transport is strongly dominated by the wind-driven Ekman heat transport. 'In-situ' values of heat transport using the actual wind-driven transports for the respective months yield even higher estimates. Heat transport at 14.5N rises to 1.37 +/- 0.42 PW (February) and the maximum is now at the 8N section, 1.69 +/- 0.52 PW (May). Comparisons of our results with another tropical section at 11N occupied concurrently demonstrate the large variability in heat transport related to changes in the wind field. Due to extremely weak winds in the eastern Atlantic and a resulting low Ekman transport, the 'in-situ' value of heat transport through this section ranged between 0.30 +/- 0.18 PW and 0.59 +/- 0.18 PW depending on the value chosen for the Ekman transport. The lower of the two heat transport estimates results from calculations with the actual observed winds and the other using a monthly climatological mean. That even the computations with the climat