Decadal changes in ocean properties revealed by ARGO floats

King, B.A.; McDonagh, E.L.. 2005 Decadal changes in ocean properties revealed by ARGO floats. Geophysical Research Letters, 32 (15). L15601-[4pp]. 10.1029/2005GL023145

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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1029/2005GL023145

Abstract/Summary

This paper demonstrates that CTD data from autonomous profiling floats can be used to detect basin-scale changes of water properties on decadal, and potentially shorter, timescales. In the western Indian Ocean at 32°S, the properties of Subantarctic Mode Water have changed such that between 1987 and 2002, salinity has increased by 0.04 at certain temperature levels. Although in this case detailed and high-accuracy data are available from a research cruise, we demonstrate that floats have the following value: real-time float data are of sufficient accuracy to reveal changes in ocean properties on timescales of a decade or less; floats achieve spatial and temporal coverage not possible with research ships, providing vital supporting evidence for the interpretation of cruise CTD data. Floats therefore provide a mechanism for monitoring changes during the interval between dedicated research cruises and for identifying areas in which further cruises are likely to be fruitful.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	10.1029/2005GL023145
ISSN:	0094-8276
Date made live:	27 Oct 2005 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/117751

Item Type:

Publication - Article

Digital Object Identifier (DOI):

10.1029/2005GL023145

ISSN:

0094-8276

Date made live:

27 Oct 2005 +0 (UTC)

URI:

https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/117751