The Argo Program has been supported by the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) to provide a high quality, global data set for tracking variations on seasonal to inter-annual time and 1000 km space scales while respecting its member state’s territorial rights.  A series of documents describing this relationship can be found below.

• IOC Assembly Resolution XX-6 set up a process to notify coastal states to protect their rights when Argo floats drift into their territorial waters.
• IOC Resolution EC-XLI.4 is a set of guidelines for the implementation of Resolution XX-6.
• IOC Resolution EC-LI agreed to extend the original IOC XX-6 resolution to the six variables measured on BGC Argo floats and set up a process for adding new variables in the future.
• WMO policy and practice for the exchange of meteorological and related data and products including guidelines on relationships in commercial meteorological activities, Resolution 40 (Cg-XII)

Use of Profiling Floats for research and other applications:

Not all profiling floats can or should be part of Argo. If the requirements of the Argo Program do not align well with your needs, or you are unable to meet Argo’s transparency, data sharing, operational and data management requirements, research profiling floats should be deployed outside of the Argo Program

Floats outside of Argo need to follow different rules for deployments and permission/clearance procedures if they have the potential to drift into EEZs.  Please see the table below to ensure you are abiding by international legal agreements, whether your float is part of the Argo Program or it outside of it. Any questions around these guidelines can be sent to support@ocean-ops.org