Academic literature on the topic 'BioGeoChemical-Argo (BGC-Argo) floats'

Abstract. A set of observing system simulation experiments was performed. This assessed the impact on global ocean biogeochemical reanalyses of assimilating chlorophyll from remotely sensed ocean colour and in situ observations of chlorophyll, nitrate, oxygen, and pH from a proposed array of Biogeochemical-Argo (BGC-Argo) floats. Two potential BGC-Argo array distributions were tested: one for which biogeochemical sensors are placed on all current Argo floats and one for which biogeochemical sensors are placed on a quarter of current Argo floats. Assimilating BGC-Argo data greatly improved model results throughout the water column. This included surface partial pressure of carbon dioxide (pCO2), which is an important output of reanalyses. In terms of surface chlorophyll, assimilating ocean colour effectively constrained the model, with BGC-Argo providing no added benefit at the global scale. The vertical distribution of chlorophyll was improved by assimilating BGC-Argo data. Both BGC-Argo array distributions gave benefits, with greater improvements seen with more observations. From the point of view of ocean reanalysis, it is recommended to proceed with development of BGC-Argo as a priority. The proposed array of 1000 floats will lead to clear improvements in reanalyses, with a larger array likely to bring further benefits. The ocean colour satellite observing system should also be maintained, as ocean colour and BGC-Argo will provide complementary benefits.

Abstract. Data assimilation has led to advancements in biogeochemical modelling and scientific understanding of the ocean. The recent operational availability of data from BGC-Argo (biogeochemical Argo) floats, which provide valuable insights into key vertical biogeochemical processes, stands to further improve biogeochemical modelling through assimilation schemes that include float observations in addition to traditionally assimilated satellite data. In the present work, we demonstrate the feasibility of joint multi-platform assimilation in realistic biogeochemical applications by presenting the results of 1-year simulations of Mediterranean Sea biogeochemistry. Different combinations of satellite chlorophyll data and BGC-Argo nitrate and chlorophyll data have been tested, and validation with respect to available independent non-assimilated and assimilated (before the assimilation) observations showed that assimilation of both satellite and float observations outperformed the assimilation of platforms considered individually. Moreover, the assimilation of BGC-Argo data impacted the vertical structure of nutrients and phytoplankton in terms of deep chlorophyll maximum depth, intensity, and nutricline depth. The outcomes of the model simulation assimilating both satellite data and BGC-Argo data provide a consistent picture of the basin-wide differences in vertical features associated with summer stratified conditions, describing a relatively high variability between the western and eastern Mediterranean, with thinner and shallower but intense deep chlorophyll maxima associated with steeper and narrower nutriclines in the western Mediterranean.

Abstract. This paper provides an overview and demonstration of emerging float-based methods for quantifying gross primary production (GPP) and net community production (NCP) using Biogeochemical-Argo (BGC-Argo) float data. Recent publications have described GPP methods that are based on the detection of diurnal oscillations in upper-ocean oxygen or particulate organic carbon concentrations using single profilers or a composite of BGC-Argo floats. NCP methods rely on budget calculations to partition observed tracer variations into physical or biological processes occurring over timescales greater than 1 d. Presently, multi-year NCP time series are feasible at near-weekly resolution, using consecutive or simultaneous float deployments at local scales. Results, however, are sensitive to the choice of tracer used in the budget calculations and uncertainties in the budget parameterizations employed across different NCP approaches. Decadal, basin-wide GPP calculations are currently achievable using data compiled from the entire BGC-Argo array, but finer spatial and temporal resolution requires more float deployments to construct diurnal tracer curves. A projected, global BGC-Argo array of 1000 floats should be sufficient to attain annual GPP estimates at 10∘ latitudinal resolution if floats profile at off-integer intervals (e.g., 5.2 or 10.2 d). Addressing the current limitations of float-based methods should enable enhanced spatial and temporal coverage of marine GPP and NCP measurements, facilitating global-scale determinations of the carbon export potential, training of satellite primary production algorithms, and evaluations of biogeochemical numerical models. This paper aims to facilitate broader uptake of float GPP and NCP methods, as singular or combined tools, by the oceanographic community and to promote their continued development.

Abstract. Numerical models of ocean biogeochemistry are becoming the major tools used to detect and predict the impact of climate change on marine resources and to monitor ocean health. However, with the continuous improvement of model structure and spatial resolution, incorporation of these additional degrees of freedom into fidelity assessment has become increasingly challenging. Here, we propose a new method to provide information on the model predictive skill in a concise way. The method is based on the conjoint use of a k-means clustering technique, assessment metrics, and Biogeochemical-Argo (BGC-Argo) observations. The k-means algorithm and the assessment metrics reduce the number of model data points to be evaluated. The metrics evaluate either the model state accuracy or the skill of the model with respect to capturing emergent properties, such as the deep chlorophyll maximums and oxygen minimum zones. The use of BGC-Argo observations as the sole evaluation data set ensures the accuracy of the data, as it is a homogenous data set with strict sampling methodologies and data quality control procedures. The method is applied to the Global Ocean Biogeochemistry Analysis and Forecast system of the Copernicus Marine Service. The model performance is evaluated using the model efficiency statistical score, which compares the model–observation misfit with the variability in the observations and, thus, objectively quantifies whether the model outperforms the BGC-Argo climatology. We show that, overall, the model surpasses the BGC-Argo climatology in predicting pH, dissolved inorganic carbon, alkalinity, oxygen, nitrate, and phosphate in the mesopelagic and the mixed layers as well as silicate in the mesopelagic layer. However, there are still areas for improvement with respect to reducing the model–data misfit for certain variables such as silicate, pH, and the partial pressure of CO2 in the mixed layer as well as chlorophyll-a-related, oxygen-minimum-zone-related, and particulate-organic-carbon-related metrics. The method proposed here can also aid in refining the design of the BGC-Argo network, in particular regarding the regions in which BGC-Argo observations should be enhanced to improve the model accuracy via the assimilation of BGC-Argo data or process-oriented assessment studies. We strongly recommend increasing the number of observations in the Arctic region while maintaining the existing high-density of observations in the Southern Oceans. The model error in these regions is only slightly less than the variability observed in BGC-Argo measurements. Our study illustrates how the synergic use of modeling and BGC-Argo data can both provide information about the performance of models and improve the design of observing systems.

Abstract. Given current threats to ocean ecosystem health, there is a growing demand for accurate biogeochemical hindcasts, nowcasts, and predictions. Provision of such products requires data assimilation, i.e., a comprehensive strategy for incorporating observations into biogeochemical models, but current data streams of biogeochemical observations are generally considered insufficient for the operational provision of such products. This study investigates to what degree the assimilation of satellite observations in combination with a priori model calibration by sparse BGC-Argo profiles can improve subsurface biogeochemical properties. The multivariate deterministic ensemble Kalman filter (DEnKF) has been implemented to assimilate physical and biological observations into a three-dimensional coupled physical–biogeochemical model, the biogeochemical component of which has been calibrated by BGC-Argo float data for the Gulf of Mexico. Specifically, observations of sea surface height, sea surface temperature, and surface chlorophyll were assimilated, and profiles of both physical and biological variables were updated based on the surface information. We assessed whether this leads to improved subsurface distributions, especially of biological properties, using observations from five BGC-Argo floats that were not assimilated. An alternative light parameterization that was tuned a priori using BGC-Argo observations was also applied to test the sensitivity of data assimilation impact on subsurface biological properties. Results show that assimilation of the satellite data improves model representation of major circulation features, which translate into improved three-dimensional distributions of temperature and salinity. The multivariate assimilation also improves the agreement of subsurface nitrate through its tight correlation with temperature, but the improvements in subsurface chlorophyll were modest initially due to suboptimal choices of the model's optical module. Repeating the assimilation run by using the alternative light parameterization greatly improved the subsurface distribution of chlorophyll. Therefore, even sparse BGC-Argo observations can provide substantial benefits for biogeochemical prediction by enabling a priori model tuning. Given that, so far, the abundance of BGC-Argo profiles in the Gulf of Mexico and elsewhere has been insufficient for sequential assimilation, updating 3D biological properties in a model that has been well calibrated is an intermediate step toward full assimilation of the new data types.

Biogeochemical-Argo (BGC-Argo) is a network of profiling floats carrying sensors that enable observation of as many as six essential biogeochemical and bio-optical variables: oxygen, nitrate, pH, chlorophyll a, suspended particles, and downwelling irradiance. This sensor network represents today's most promising strategy for collecting temporally and vertically resolved observations of biogeochemical properties throughout the ocean. All data are freely available within 24 hours of transmission. These data fill large gaps in ocean-observing systems and support three ambitions: gaining a better understanding of biogeochemical processes (e.g., the biological carbon pump and air–sea CO2 exchanges) and evaluating ongoing changes resulting from increasing anthropogenic pressure (e.g., acidification and deoxygenation); managing the ocean (e.g., improving the global carbon budget and developing sustainable fisheries); and carrying out exploration for potential discoveries. The BGC-Argo network has already delivered extensive high-quality global data sets that have resulted in unique scientific outcomes from regional to global scales. With the proposed expansion of BGC-Argo in the near future, this network has the potential to become a pivotal observation system that links satellite and ship-based observations in a transformative manner.

Abstract. New autonomous robotic platforms for observing the ocean, i.e. Biogeochemical-Argo (BGC-Argo) floats, have drastically increased the number of vertical profiles of irradiance, photosynthetically available radiation (PAR), and algal chlorophyll concentrations around the globe independent of the season. Such data may therefore be a fruitful resource to improve performances of numerical models for marine biogeochemistry. Here we present a work that integrates 1314 vertical profiles of PAR acquired by 31 BGC-Argo floats operated in the Mediterranean Sea between 2012 and 2016 into a one-dimensional model to simulate the vertical and temporal variability of algal chlorophyll concentrations. The model was initially forced with PAR measurements to assess its skill when using quality-controlled light profiles, and subsequently with a number of alternative bio-optical models to analyse the model capability when light observations are not available. Model outputs were evaluated against co-located chlorophyll profiles measured by BGC-Argo floats. Results highlight that the data-driven model is able to reproduce the spatial and temporal variability of deep chlorophyll maxima depth observed at a number of Mediterranean sites well. Further, we illustrate the key role of PAR and vertical mixing in shaping the vertical dynamics of primary producers in the Mediterranean Sea. The comparison of alternative bio-optical models identifies the best simple one to be used, and suggests that model simulations benefit from considering the diel cycle.

Marine biogeochemical models have been widely used to understand ecosystem dynamics and biogeochemical cycles. To resolve more processes, models typically increase in complexity, and require optimization of more parameters. Data assimilation is an essential tool for parameter optimization, which can reduce model uncertainty and improve model predictability. At present, model parameters are often adjusted using sporadic in-situ measurements or satellite-derived total chlorophyll-a concentration at sea surface. However, new ocean datasets and satellite products have become available, providing a unique opportunity to further constrain ecosystem models. Biogeochemical-Argo (BGC-Argo) floats are able to observe the ocean interior continuously and satellite phytoplankton functional type (PFT) data has the potential to optimize biogeochemical models with multiple phytoplankton species. In this study, we assess the value of assimilating BGC-Argo measurements and satellite-derived PFT data in a biogeochemical model in the northern South China Sea (SCS) by using a genetic algorithm. The assimilation of the satellite-derived PFT data was found to improve not only the modeled total chlorophyll-a concentration, but also the individual phytoplankton groups at surface. The improvement of simulated surface diatom provided a better representation of subsurface particulate organic carbon (POC). However, using satellite data alone did not improve vertical distributions of chlorophyll-a and POC. Instead, these distributions were improved by combining the satellite data with BGC-Argo data. As the dominant variability of phytoplankton in the northern SCS is at the seasonal timescale, we find that utilizing monthly-averaged BGC-Argo profiles provides an optimal fit between model outputs and measurements in the region, better than using high-frequency measurements.

AbstractA cross-validation algorithm is developed to perform probabilistic observing system simulation experiments (OSSEs). The use of a probability distribution of “true” states is considered rather than a single “truth” using a cross-validation algorithm in which each member of an ensemble simulation is alternatively used as the “truth” and to simulate synthetic observation data that reflect the observing system to be evaluated. The other available members are used to produce an updated ensemble by assimilating the specific data, while a probabilistic evaluation of the observation impacts is obtained using a comprehensive set of verification skill scores. To showcase this new type of OSSE studies with tractable numerical costs, a simple biogeochemical application under the Horizon 2020 AtlantOS project is presented for a single assimilation time step, in order to investigate the value of adding biogeochemical (BGC)-Argo floats to the existing satellite ocean color observations. Further experiments must be performed in time as well for a rigorous and effective evaluation of the BGC-Argo network design, though some evidence from this preliminary work suggests that assimilating chlorophyll data from a BGC-Argo array of 1000 floats can provide additional error reduction at the surface, where the use of spatial ocean color data is limited (due to cloudy conditions), as well at depths ranging from 50 to 150 m.

The vertical distribution of light and its spectral composition are critical factors influencing numerous physical, chemical, and biological processes within the oceanic water column. In this study, we present vertically resolved models of downwelling irradiance (ED) at three different wavelengths and photosynthetically available radiation (PAR) on a global scale. These models rely on the SOCA (Satellite Ocean Color merged with Argo data to infer bio-optical properties to depth) methodology, which is based on an artificial neural network (ANN). The new light models are trained with light profiles (ED/PAR) acquired from BioGeoChemical-Argo (BGC-Argo) floats. The model inputs consist of surface ocean color radiometry data (i.e., Rrs, PAR, and kd(490)) derived by satellite and extracted from the GlobColour database, temperature and salinity profiles originating from BGC-Argo, as well as temporal components (day of the year and local time in cyclic transformation). The model outputs correspond to ED profiles at the three wavelengths of the BGC-Argo measurements (i.e., 380, 412, and 490 nm) and PAR profiles. We assessed the retrieval of light profiles by these light models using three different datasets: BGC-Argo profiles that were not used for the training (i.e., 20% of the initial database); data from four independent BGC-Argo floats that were used neither for the training nor for the 20% validation dataset; and the SeaBASS database (in situ data collected from various oceanic cruises). The light models show satisfactory predictions when thus compared with real measurements. From the 20% validation database, the light models retrieve light variables with high accuracies (root mean squared error (RMSE)) of 76.42 μmol quanta m−2 s−1 for PAR and 0.04, 0.08, and 0.09 W m−2 nm−1 for ED380, ED412, and ED490, respectively. This corresponds to a median absolute percent error (MAPE) that ranges from 37% for ED490 and PAR to 39% for ED380 and ED412. The estimated accuracy metrics across these three validation datasets are consistent and demonstrate the robustness and suitability of these light models for diverse global ocean applications.

L'Océan est un acteur majeur du climat en échangeant avec l'atmosphère de grandes quantités de carbone. Le carbone atmosphérique est fixé à la surface de l’océan par le phytoplancton qui le transforme en carbone biogène, dont une partie est transportée vers l’océan profond par des mécanismes physiques et biologiques; il s’agit de la Pompe Biologique de Carbone (BCP). Une infime partie de ce carbone biogène atteindra des profondeurs suffisantes pour être séquestré durant plusieurs siècles avant qu'il ne retourne dans l'atmosphère, régulant les concentrations atmosphériques de CO2. Aujourd'hui, nous en savons assez sur la BCP pour reconnaitre son importance dans le climat, mais nos connaissances sur son fonctionnement sont limitées en raison d’un échantillonnage insuffisant des flux de carbone biogène. Dans ce travail de thèse, nous avons utilisé les flotteurs BioGéoChimique-Argo, plateformes d’observations conçues pour résoudre le problème du sous-échantillonnage, afin d’explorer un mécanisme majeur de la BCP qui est la pompe gravitationnelle. La pompe gravitationnelle est le transport du carbone biogène sous la forme de particules organiques (POC) qui sédimentent de la surface vers l’océan profond. Notre étude de la pompe gravitationnelle se divise en trois axes. Le premier axe consiste au développement d’une méthode pour détecter les floraisons de coccolithophoridés, groupe phytoplanctonique majeur qui a potentiellement un contrôle important sur le transport du POC en profondeur. Le deuxième axe est centré sur la variabilité saisonnière et régionale des flux de POC dans l’Océan Austral, qui est une zone sous-échantillonnée mais dans laquelle plusieurs flotteurs ont été déployés avec une trappe optique à sédiments (OST). Seuls une dizaine de flotteurs sont équipés d’OST, ce qui est faible en comparaison avec l’ensemble de la flotte BGC-Argo (i.e. plusieurs centaines de flotteurs). C’est pourquoi nous avons développé, dans le troisième axe, une méthode pour estimer le flux de POC avec les capteurs standards du programme BGC-Argo. Cette méthode a ensuite été appliquée à une centaine de flotteurs pour décrire la variabilité saisonnière du flux de POC dans de nombreuses régions océaniques. Dans ce travail de thèse, nous mettons également en évidence le lien entre la variabilité des flux et la nature des particules en surface. Par exemple, nous avons calculé des relations entre la composition de la communauté phytoplanctonique et les flux de POC à 1000m. En utilisant ces relations, nous avons ensuite utilisé les observations satellites pour extrapoler les flux de POC à de larges échelles spatiales, comme à l’ensemble de l’Océan Austral et de l’océan global
The ocean plays a key role in the climate by exchanging large quantities of carbon with the atmosphere. Atmospheric carbon is fixed at the ocean surface by phytoplankton that transforms it into biogenic carbon, part of which is transported to the deep ocean by physical and biological mechanisms; this is the Biological Carbon Pump (BCP). A tiny fraction of this biogenic carbon reaches sufficient depths to be sequestered for several centuries before it returns to the atmosphere, thus regulating concentrations of atmospheric CO2. Today, we know enough about the BCP to recognize its importance in climate, but our knowledge of its functioning is limited due to insufficient sampling of biogenic carbon fluxes. Here, we used BioGeoChimical-Argo floats, observational platforms designed to solve the undersampling problem, to explore a major mechanism of the BCP called the gravitational pump. The gravitational pump is the transport of biogenic carbon in the form of organic particles (POC) that sink from the surface into the deep ocean. Our study of the gravitational pump is divided into three axes. The first axis consisted of developing a method to detect blooms of coccolithophores, a major phytoplankton group that potentially has an important control on the transport of POC at depth. The second axis focused on the seasonal and regional variability of POC fluxes in the Southern Ocean, an undersampled area in which several floats have been deployed with an optical sediment trap (OST). Only ten floats were equipped with an OST, which is low compared to the whole BGC-Argo fleet (i.e. several hundred floats). Therefore, in the third axis, we developed a method to estimate the POC flux with the standard sensors of BGC-Argo floats. This method was then applied to hundreds of floats to describe the seasonal variability of the POC flux in many regions. In this study, we also highlighted the link between the POC flux and the nature of surface particles. For example, we calculated relationships between phytoplankton community composition and POC flux at 1000m. Using these relationships, we then used satellite observations to extrapolate POC flux to large spatial scales, such as the entire Southern Ocean and the global ocean

This document presents the results of simulations that include glider profiles assimilation. Simulations are performed with the Marine Copernicus operational biogeochemical model system of the Mediterranean Sea. The deliverable shows that the assimilation of BGC-glider is feasible in the contest of biogeochemical operational systems and that it is built upon the experience of BGC-Argo float data assimilation. Different configuration of the assimilation of glider data have been tested to assess the impact of the physical and biogeochemical glider observations. The deliverable also describes the pre-processing activities of the BGC-glider data to provide qualified observations for the data assimilation and the cross validation of chlorophyll glider data with other sensors (ocean colour and BGC-Argo floats). Results of the simulations show that BGC-glider data assimilation, as already shown for BGC-Argo floats, provides complementary information with respect to Ocean Colour data (which is the only or the most commonly assimilated data in biogeochemical operational systems). Beside their relatively limited horizontal spatial impact, the assimilation of BGC profiles can constrain model simulations for relevant biogeochemical processes in specific periods (summer and transition periods) and layers (surface and subsurface). Results also highlight the importance of the assimilation modelling systems that can efficiently resolve the inconsistencies between chlorophyll observations of different sensors. (EuroSea Deliverable ; D4.10)

This report presents the results of task 7.3 on “Quantification of improvements in carbon flux data for the tropical Atlantic based on the multi-platform and neural network approach”. To better constrain changes in the ocean’s capture and sequestration of CO2 emitted by human activities, in situ measurements are needed. Tropical regions are considered to be mostly sources of CO2 to the atmosphere due to specific circulation features, with large interannual variability mainly controlled by physical drivers (Padin et al., 2010). The tropical Atlantic is the second largest source, after the tropical Pacific, of CO2 to the atmosphere (Landschützer et al., 2014). However, it is not a homogeneous zone, as it is affected by many physical and biogeochemical processes that vary on many time scales and affect surrounding areas (Foltz et al., 2019). The Tropical Atlantic Observing System (TAOS) has progressed substantially over the past two decades. Still, many challenges and uncertainties remain to require further studies into the area’s role in terms of carbon fluxes (Foltz et al., 2019). Monitoring and sustained observations of surface oceanic CO2 are critical for understanding the fate of CO2 as it penetrates the ocean and during its sequestration at depth. This deliverable relies on different observing platforms deployed specifically as part of the EuroSea project (a Saildrone, and 5 pH-equipped BGC-Argo floats) as well as on the platforms as part of the TAOS (CO2-equipped moorings, cruises, models, and data products). It also builds on the work done in D7.1 and D7.2 on the deployment and quality control of pH-equipped BGC-Argo floats and Saildrone data. Indeed, high-quality homogeneously calibrated carbonate variable measurements are mandatory to be able to compute air-sea CO2 fluxes at a basin scale from multiple observing platforms. (EuroSea Deliverable, D7.6)