In situ

March 2011

MyOcean requires in-situ data for many reasons:

  • To constrain models (“data assimilation”): This includes parametres such as Temperature and salinity from surface to bottom,
  • To validate models periodically : currents, sea level, chlorophyll, oxygen, nutrient content...,
  • To validate satellite observations,
  • To provide observation products to the MyOcean users.

The main families of in-situ observing systems for MyOcean are:
 

The main families of in-situ observing systems for MyOcean are:

Platform

Ocean parameters: How they are measured and why

Photos
Argo profiling floats

Argo profiling floats measure mainly Temperature and Salinity from sea surface to 2000 m depth with good, consistent spatial resolution.

Discover the Float cycle on this link to Euro-Argo.
  Launch of an Argo float
Copyright Imedea
Research vessels Research vessels deliver several high-accurate parameters (including Chlorophyll-a and Temperature) from sea surface to the ocean floor, but with intermittent spatial coverage. The Pourquoi Pas Research Vessel
Photo of "Le Pourquoi Pas" (Copyright Ifremer)
Gliders Gliders provide physical data (Temperature, Salinity and Currents) as well as biogeochemical data (Chlorophyll-a, oxygen, nutrients,…) from surface to 1000 m below the surface, depending on the equipment. These instruments can be steered from shore via satellite.
Gliders Launch Copyright LPO

 

Bathythermographs (XBT)

 Bathythermographs are launched from either research or commercial vessels and measure Temperature from the surface down to 450-750 m below sea surface. Bathythermograph(XBT) launched from a Vessel
Copyright Ifremer
Surface moorings

Surface moorings measure a wide variety of sub-surface variables including Temperature, Salinity, Currents over long periods of time. These data are essential for model validation.

   A moored buoy
Copyright Karlson/SMHI
Ferry boxes Ferry boxes are found on board ferries or regional ships. They measure Temperature, Salinity, Turbidity, and Chlorophyll, nutrient, Oxygen, pH and algal types.

A Ferrybox on board

Copyright Ifremer/INSU
Tide-gauge measurers Tide gauges provide long-term reference and validation for Sea level data. 
 

 

GLOBAL OCEAN: IN SITU DATA PROVIDERS

The global oceans are observed using different in-situ observing systems operated by many institutes. The processed data are distributed by Observation Data Providers that are national data centers or operational agencies. Usually data providers are organised in networks that are coordinated within international or European programmes, and involve many researchers and operational national agencies

PROVIDER  SYSTEMS  VARIABLES  PERIODICITY 
ARGO and its European component EuroArgo 3000 active floats provide data from surface to 2000m Temperature, Salinity, Currents  Daily
OCEANSITES and its European component EUROSITES 32 sites providing time series at a fixed point. Nine sites operated in Europe. Physical (Temperature, Salinity, Currents) & Biogeochemical  Daily
GOSUD 20 vessels/month, 75% operated by Europe Temperature, Salinity, Currents  Daily
DBCP (Data Buoy Cooperation Panel) 1500 drifters, 110 deployed by Europe Temperature, Currents  Daily
GTS (Global Telecommunication System) Data transmitted by Telecom System Temperature, Salinity  Daily
GLOSS (Global Sea Level Observing System) GLOSS data server  Sea level  Weekly

EUROPEAN SEAS: IN SITU DATA PROVIDERS

PROVIDER SYSTEMS PARAMETRES PERIODICITY
EGO (Everyone's Glider Observatories) Active gliders operated by EGO partners Physical (Temperature, Salinity) & Biogeochemical Daily when gliders at sea
European vessels (mainly ferries) 10 vessels Physical (Temperature,Salinity) & Biogeochemical  Daily
Arctic-ROOS* (above 60°N)  Mainly vessels, Argo and drifters  Temperature, Salinity, Biogeochemical (Fluorescence, Chlorophyll-a, Oxygen)  Daily
Baltic-ROOS* 46 moorings and four vessels, 32 tide gauges  Temperature, Salinity, Sea Level, Biogeochemical (Fluorescence, Chlorophyll-a, Oxygen)  Daily
NOOS* (North Sea)  21 moorings and four vessels, Argo, Drifters, starting gliders, 20 tide gauges  Temperature, Salinity, Currents, Sea Level, Biogeochemical (Fluorescence, Chlorophyll-a, Oxygen)  Daily
IBI-ROOS* (Iberia, Biscay, Ireland)  30 moorings, three research and fishing vessels, Argo, Drifters and Gliders, 15 tide gauges  Temperature, Salinity, Sea Level, Biogeochemical (Fluorescence, Chlorophyll-a, Oxygen)  Daily
MOON (Mediterranean Sea) 10 moorings, one research vessel, Argo, Drifters and Gliders, 15 tide gauges Temperature, Salinity, Current, Sea Level Daily, Weekly
 Black Sea GOOS*  1 mooring, Argo and Drifters  Temperature, Salinity, Biogeochemical (Fluorescence, Chlorophyll-a, Oxygen)  Daily

 *Coordinated on the regional level by EUROGOOS.