3 July 2022
On Friday, July 2, around 9pm we deployed the third biogeochemical Argo float of the 2022 re-occupation of the P02 repeat-hydrography section at 30N 131W. Adopted by the Tuskawilla Middle School in Oviedo, FL, the Climate Buster was carried to the back deck by Mason, our research technician of the afternoon shift and Daniela, the lead analyst of our alkalinity measurements (image 1). The float (image 2)was then deployed by Mason, assisted by two of our CTD watchstander students (image 3). Ever since the year 2000 there have been thousands of Argo floats (https://argo.ucsd.edu) drifting around all of the world’s oceans at about 3000 feet below the sea surface. Periodically they return to the surface for a few hours to transmit their data to a system of satellites orbiting our planet. All floats collect temperature and salinity data during their descents, drifts and ascents, and these data are used in near-real time by computers modeling the ocean circulation, similar to how the data from weather balloons are used in atmospheric models to predict the weather. Biogeochemical floats are the most recent addition to the Argo fleet, additionally measuring nitrogen, oxygen, chlorophyll A, as well as pH of the water, which together provide crucial information about the biological environment. The first profile collected by “Climate Buster” has already been received and the data indicate that all sensors are working well and that the profiles was deployed in waters affected by the California Current System [image 4].
Here is a short movie showing the deployment of float. You can see Turner (who had also decorated the float with the school mascot) and Alyssa along with our research technician Mason.
– Andreas Thurnherr
Image 1: Adopted by the Tuskawilla Middle School in Oviedo, FL, the Climate Buster was carried to the back deck by Mason, our research technician of the afternoon shift and Daniela, the lead analyst of our alkalinity measurements. Photo by Lily Dove.
Image 2: GO-BGC Float Climate Buster adopted by Tuskawilla Middle School. Photo by Lily Dove.
Image 3: GO-BGC Float Climate Buster getting prepped for launch by two of our CTD watchstander students Turner and Alyssa. Photo by Lily Dove.
The first profile collected by Climate Buster has already been received and the data indicate that all sensors are working well and that the profiles was deployed in waters affected by the California Current System.