Argo Floats

An argo float is something that measures the temperature and salinity of seawater. There is around 3500 argos adrift. Argo float don't just drift around they are programmed to travel up and down in a continuous. cycle They are measured to be 1.2metre tall, they weigh about 40 kg, They cost $19000 and their lifespan is 5 years. The argo float allows them to measure temperatures in deeper and shallow waters. It can drift thousands of kilometres before the battery runs out. They are only made in three countries United States, Germany and France. The argo cycle first it descends around for six hours, then then it parks at 1000 metres, then drifts for 9 days, then descends to 2000 metre. then it ascends to the surface around 6 hours collecting data. Most argos work for about 5 years after that they sink to the bottom for good. They released around 800 each year so they don't run out. It costs them around $15,200,000 a year.  

Argo are an international project 30 world wide countries are involved. Oceanographers use argro data to learn more about the world ocean and also how water moves. Scientists were very interested when data comes back when it was hotter rather colder. Scientists can also make predictions about the effects of the water, which include rising sea water and and an increase of tropical storms. New Zealand waters are famous for releasing the highest number argos in the world (750). In 2012 there were over 3500 active argo float in the worlds oceans. The argo floats that are released near Antarctica with special ice sensors. If the surface covers over with ice it will stay down for a week, but sometimes it takes several months for it to unfreeze and for it to send its data.

 This is an argo float. It is much bigger than this.