Big News: Thingamajig Makes an Unbelievable Comeback!
Remember Float #22365, nicknamed Thingamajig, deployed just before our brief stop in Tahiti (see the blog post here)? Initially declared non-operational due to a failed CTD (conductivity-temperature-depth sensor), it miraculously sprang back to life!
Just a bit of context here: the CTD is a vital component of any BGC-Argo float and, when it fails, all the other sensors (nitrate, oxygen, pH, etc.) are impacted. Without it, the float couldn’t profile or collect meaningful data. Although BGC-Argo floats are robust autonomous instruments, those with failing CTD sensors do not just come back to life. But against all odds, Thingamajig has come back to life! After two unsuccessful profiles, the CTD suddenly resumed functioning, marking the first time a float with a failed CTD has spontaneously recovered. Needless to say, the entire BGC-Argo community is ecstatic. The float is now operational and collecting high-quality biogeochemical (BGC) data.
The Data Team at MBARI says that the root cause of the CTD failure remains a mystery, though diagnostics indicate a railed current draw in the sensor. Unfortunately, this issue significantly increases power consumption, reducing the float’s lifespan from an expected five years to just about six months.
To maximize Thingamajig’s shortened lifespan, the float’s engineers have programmed a new mission for it. Instead of profiling every 10 days from 2000 meters to the surface, the float will now profile 7–8 times daily from 300 meters to the surface. This adjustment will yield an unprecedented, high-resolution dataset, capturing diurnal biogeochemical variability, temporal changes in surface (sub)mesoscale features, and more.
The MBARI Data Team is eagerly awaiting Thingamajig’s insights, which will prove invaluable to the BGC-Argo Float Array and the broader scientific community. Sometimes, magic really does happen!
Don’t forget to look for real-time data from this and other BGC floats on the GO-BGC website. Use one of the interactive maps to look for Thingamajig—just search for the Float-ID 22365. You can also find information on key parameters measured by each adopted float on the AdoptAFloatViz page.
Check the GO-BGC array in real time and stay tuned to hear about the next float deployments!
About the Author—Isa Rosso is a hybrid physical oceanographer with extensive experience in numerical models, ocean observations, and satellite data, with a deep passion for being at sea, where she can truly experience the power and beauty of our oceans.