The operational action plan of Greek Argo infrastructure includes the purchase and deployment of 25 ARGO floats until 2015, covering in that way significantly the monitoring needs of the Aegean and Ionian seas, as well as Eastern Mediterranean region in general. At the same time it will ensure actions towards the strengthening of the network and promoting the utilization of scientific research results. As being a part of European Argo Research Infrastructure, Greek Argo will participate in the project’s future planning and decision making.
The floats are programmed to drift freely in 350m depth, descent in 1000m depth every 5 days and then record vertical profiles of temperature, salinity and dissolved oxygen while ascending to the sea surface, according to Med-Argo (Mediterranean & Black Sea Argo Centre) specifications for the Mediterranean Sea and its sub-basins, taking into account the Mediterranean basin’s special characteristics (small bathymetry, complex coastline, many islands etc) and aiming to ensure the greatest possible lifetime of the floats.
Future deployments are a function of the operational needs of the Greek Argo network and the current coverage of areas of interest. Although the final decisions for the areas that floats will be deployed may change, the plan for 2015-2017 includes:
- 2 float deployments in the Southern Aegean (where Myrtoan and Cretan Sea meet)-one of which will concern a DOVA Argo float (equipped with dissolved oxygen sensor)
- 1 float deployment in the Northern Aegean
- 1 float deployment in the Ionian Sea, since the Argo coverage in the area is good
For the Levantine Sea, although the coverage is satisfactory, the Greek Argo could contribute with 1 deployment per year, to maintain this coverage at high levels.
Active Argo floats in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea (green circles).
