4 PROVOR floats equipped with: (CTD) + Radiometer Ed( l ) + Transmissometer c(660)

1. ?? ?? PLANNED STUDIES THE OBSERVATIONS SYSTEM Bio-optical Gliders and Profiling floats in the MediterraneanARGO SCIENCE WORKSHOP – MARCH 13 – 18, 2006Fabrizio D’Ortenzio1, Katarzyna Niewiadomska1, Hervé Claustre1, David Antoine1, Pierre Testor2 INTRODUCTION Recent development of miniaturized low-energy sensors capable of retrieving several bio-geochemical parameters (i.e. chl a, POC, CDOM, Oxygen) have been made available for integration on autonomous platforms. At the emerging Operational Oceanography Observatory in Villefranche-sur-mer, some of these sensors are being integrated into two different autonomous systems: gliders and profiling floats. In the framework of the French project PROGLO (P.I. Hervé Claustre), some of these platforms will be deployed in the NW Mediterranean, where a physical and biological sampling station has been active since 1991 (DYFAMED) and a bio-optical buoy has been in operation since 2002 (BOUSSOLE). As part of the European Union project SESAME, a glider will perform several missions in the Eastern Mediterranean. Projects are also being planned for the North Atlantic and the Arctic. • Study of the secondary jet-front circulation and associated biological production • Small scale temporal and spatial variability of the mixed layer (mesoscale and sub mesoscale) BIO-OPTICAL PROFILERS 4 PROVOR floats equipped with: (CTD) + Radiometer Ed(l) + Transmissometer c(660) LOV / Dalhousie University IFREMER / MARTEC Satlantic / Wetlabs BIO-OPTICAL GLIDERS Mass = constant; Volume = Fixed + 200g; D = M / V • Diurnal cycles of bio geochemical properties by performing continuous missions from Nice observatory to DYFAMED/BOUSSOLE sampling station Volume increases => Density decreases 1000 m Glider equipped with: • OBJECTIVES • The main objectives of the bio-optical observatory is the acquisition of high temporal and spatial resolution bio-geochemical data and their derivatives for the purpose of: • establishing an operational monitoring system of the bio- geochemical dynamics of the area, • evaluating the feasibility of an ARGO-like system for bio- geochemical studies, • calibrating and validating Ocean Color satellite data, • and determining the link between vertical distribution of biomass and its surface signature, as observed from space. Seabird CTD • Improving interpretation of BOUSSOLE bio-optical data in terms of: • CAL/VAL ocean color activities • impact of the physical and biological forcings on the bio-optical behavior Downwelling Irradiance meter BOUSSOLE “Buoy for the acquisition of a long-term (bio)optical series” 2 Wetlabs BB2F sensors meassuring Chla a & CDOM Fluorescence and backscatter (Red, Green, Blue) A deep sea mooring, collecting data on a “continuous” basis, since 2003 Surface irradiance (Es) Downwelling irradiance (Ed) Upwelling irradiance (Eu) Upwelling radiance at nadir (Lu) Attenuation coefficient Backscattering coefficient, Chlorophyll fluorescence Temperature Pressure Salinity Upwelling Radiance meter Aanderaa Oxygen Optode