The U.S. government has announced a significant investment of $2.7 million from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) to enhance the Argo program, a vital array of robotic floats that collect ocean and climate data. This funding will be used to replenish and expand the fleet of instruments that make up the Argo array, which plays a crucial role in understanding the ocean and its impact on Earth’s climate.
The Argo program, which has been in operation for 25 years, consists of robotic floats that measure temperature and salinity in the global ocean. These floats dive deep below the surface every 10 days to collect data, which is then transmitted via satellite for use in weather forecasts and climate research. The new funding will support the development of “OneArgo,” a new and improved design for the instrument array, including floats that can measure biogeochemical conditions in key regions such as the Gulf of Mexico and the California Current Ecosystem.
According to U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo, this investment will enable the U.S. to maintain its position as a world leader in ocean research and will expand assessments of ocean conditions, measurements, and sea level rise. The funding will also support efforts to increase knowledge of the Arctic and the Tropical Pacific Ocean, where data collection has been limited.
Overall, this investment in the Argo program will benefit various sectors, including fisheries modeling and management, sea level rise predictions, advanced seasonal weather forecasting, and marine carbon dioxide removal. With plans to add 700 more floats to the array, the Argo program is set to continue providing valuable data for ocean and climate assessments for years to come.