In 2022, four pairs of Argo floats where deployed in the Caribbean Sea during a cruise of the Dutch researach vessel Pelagia. Each pair consists of one Dutch and one French float, both equipped with sensors from two different manufacturers. These deployments serve to enable a comparison between these two sensor types.
Image: KNMI
Four pairs of floats. Initially, they are very close together, but in the course of time they get more and more separated.
List of floats
A click on the float number brings you to an (external) page with up-to-date information about the float, including a visualization of the measurements.
| Float# | Start date | End date | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6903134 | 22.04.2022 | SBE sensor (French float) | |
| 4903629 | 22.04.2022 | RBR sensor | |
| 6903135 | 22.04.2022 | SBE sensor (French float) | |
| 2903766 | 22.04.2022 | RBR sensor | |
| 6903136 | 22.04.2022 | SBE sensor (French float) | |
| 3902456 | 22.04.2022 | 03.02.2024 | RBR sensor |
| 6903137 | 22.04.2022 | SBE sensor (French float) | |
| 3902457 | 22.04.2022 | RBR sensor |
Two of the pairs were deployed close to the coast of South America. One pair stays close together, while the other starts to disperse immediately.
Image: KNMI
Two of the pairs were deployed in the central Caribbean Sea. Here too one pair stays close together while the other one deviate.
Image: KNMI
Measuremnts frm one of the pair of floats directly after they were deployed. The sensors of both floats obviously measure nealry identical salinty values, showing that htey are of equivalent quality.