UK Deployments

UK Argo deployments across the Global Ocean

Our floats have been deployed using a wide range of platforms and deployment methods, including UK and international research vessels, Royal Navy ships, Voluntary Observing Ships, sailing vessels, and aircraft operated by the US Navy. The UK Argo float deployments are managed and coordinated by the UK Met Office team.

The majority of UK floats have been deployed in the Southern Hemisphere, particularly in the South Atlantic and Southern Ocean, contributing to the development and maintenance of the global Argo array. Other key deployment regions include the North Atlantic, the Arctic, and the Indian Ocean, with a smaller number of floats deployed in the Pacific Ocean.

UK Argo Float types

An Argo float is essentially a small autonomous oceanographic instrument designed to operate without human intervention. The Argo array is currently comprised of several float models Argo float types. The UK Argo fleet uses the following float models in their fleet:

• APEX float produced by Teledyne Webb Research
• ARVOR built by NKE-INSTRUMENTATION in France in close collaboration with IFREMER.
• ARVOR Deep
• NKE PROVOR-II, PROVOR-V-JUMBO
• MARTEC PROVOR (legacy)
• NAVIS built by Sea-Bird in the USA
• MRV SOLO Deep
• MetOCean NOVA (legacy)

Selected deployments of the UK Argo floats

James Cook 273 deployment