AUTHOR=Roemmich Dean , Alford Matthew H. , Claustre Hervé , Johnson Kenneth , King Brian , Moum James , Oke Peter , Owens W. Brechner , Pouliquen Sylvie , Purkey Sarah , Scanderbeg Megan , Suga Toshio , Wijffels Susan , Zilberman Nathalie , Bakker Dorothee , Baringer Molly , Belbeoch Mathieu , Bittig Henry C. , Boss Emmanuel , Calil Paulo , Carse Fiona , Carval Thierry , Chai Fei , Conchubhair Diarmuid Ó. , d’Ortenzio Fabrizio , Dall’Olmo Giorgio , Desbruyeres Damien , Fennel Katja , Fer Ilker , Ferrari Raffaele , Forget Gael , Freeland Howard , Fujiki Tetsuichi , Gehlen Marion , Greenan Blair , Hallberg Robert , Hibiya Toshiyuki , Hosoda Shigeki , Jayne Steven , Jochum Markus , Johnson Gregory C. , Kang KiRyong , Kolodziejczyk Nicolas , Körtzinger Arne , Traon Pierre-Yves Le , Lenn Yueng-Djern , Maze Guillaume , Mork Kjell Arne , Morris Tamaryn , Nagai Takeyoshi , Nash Jonathan , Garabato Alberto Naveira , Olsen Are , Pattabhi Rama Rao , Prakash Satya , Riser Stephen , Schmechtig Catherine , Schmid Claudia , Shroyer Emily , Sterl Andreas , Sutton Philip , Talley Lynne , Tanhua Toste , Thierry Virginie , Thomalla Sandy , Toole John , Troisi Ariel , Trull Thomas W. , Turton Jon , Velez-Belchi Pedro Joaquin , Walczowski Waldemar , Wang Haili , Wanninkhof Rik , Waterhouse Amy F. , Waterman Stephanie , Watson Andrew , Wilson Cara , Wong Annie P. S. , Xu Jianping , Yasuda Ichiro TITLE=On the Future of Argo: A Global, Full-Depth, Multi-Disciplinary Array JOURNAL=Frontiers in Marine Science VOLUME=6 YEAR=2019 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/marine-science/articles/10.3389/fmars.2019.00439 DOI=10.3389/fmars.2019.00439 ISSN=2296-7745 ABSTRACT=

The Argo Program has been implemented and sustained for almost two decades, as a global array of about 4000 profiling floats. Argo provides continuous observations of ocean temperature and salinity versus pressure, from the sea surface to 2000 dbar. The successful installation of the Argo array and its innovative data management system arose opportunistically from the combination of great scientific need and technological innovation. Through the data system, Argo provides fundamental physical observations with broad societally-valuable applications, built on the cost-efficient and robust technologies of autonomous profiling floats. Following recent advances in platform and sensor technologies, even greater opportunity exists now than 20 years ago to (i) improve Argo’s global coverage and value beyond the original design, (ii) extend Argo to span the full ocean depth, (iii) add biogeochemical sensors for improved understanding of oceanic cycles of carbon, nutrients, and ecosystems, and (iv) consider experimental sensors that might be included in the future, for example to document the spatial and temporal patterns of ocean mixing. For Core Argo and each of these enhancements, the past, present, and future progression along a path from experimental deployments to regional pilot arrays to global implementation is described. The objective is to create a fully global, top-to-bottom, dynamically complete, and multidisciplinary Argo Program that will integrate seamlessly with satellite and with other in situ elements of the Global Ocean Observing System (Legler et al., 2015). The integrated system will deliver operational reanalysis and forecasting capability, and assessment of the state and variability of the climate system with respect to physical, biogeochemical, and ecosystems parameters. It will enable basic research of unprecedented breadth and magnitude, and a wealth of ocean-education and outreach opportunities.