Global Biogeochemical-Argo Workshop

On 4, 11, 18 and 25 May and June 1, a virtual workshop will be held building on the priorities of the G7 Future of the Seas and Oceans Initiative to explore the applications of a global data-stream from the Biogeochemical-Argo array in fisheries, carbon budget verification, and environmental forecasting. The workshop is organised by the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI), and the State University of New Jersey (RUTGERS), with international coordination assistance from the G7 FSOI Coordination Centre, and with financial support from NASA, NOAA, and NSF.

The workshop is motivated by the G7 Future of the Seas and Oceans Initiative for better ocean observations to ensure sustainable use by future generations.  Recent funding by the US National Science Foundation of a $53 million project, Global Ocean Biogeochemistry Array (GO-BGC), to deploy 500 Biogeochemical-Argo profiling floats throughout the world ocean is an important step in this direction. Completion of the planned BGC-Argo system will require establishing collaborations with international partners, including those beyond the G7 nations. The workshop will celebrate these initial international commitments and discuss how to ensure that the combined investment meets the priorities of the G7 and international funders and stakeholders. The workshop will prioritise next steps with partners to ensure full implementation of the array and the international collaboration required to sustain the array into the future.