The  Servicio de Hidrografia Naval in Argentina deployed three Argo profiling floats from the ice-breaker Almirante Irizar near the Antarctic Shelf break in recent months.  Through a collaboration with the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, and supported by NOAA, the floats were deployed during resupply voyages to the Antarctic continent over the past Southern Hemisphere summer. Despite the cold and rough conditions typical of the region, the ships’ crew safely deployed the fragile profiling floats into the ocean.

Petty Officer First Class Ramón Miño and Petty Officer Second Class Nelson Tolaba deploy an Argo float from the ship’s deck.

All three are operating well and sending back data that is being shared with the global community via the Argo data system. The Argo floats will collect temperature and salinity profiles autonomously for up to 8 years, delivering data from rare visited regions, particularly during winter when sea ice covers these areas.

You can track these floats here  https://argo.whoi.edu/solo2/maps/2024cruises.html

The Argo program relies on many nations who make different contributions. Assisting with float deployments crucial to the programs’ success and to ensure every ocean region benefits from the observing power of Argo.