AST-12 meeting report posted - Argo

7.5.2 Global Marine Argo Atlas
M. Scanderbeg presented on the development of the Global Marine Argo Atlas which uses
Ferret to create plots of gridded data. Currently we have a PC version of the Atlas which comes
with the 4-D gridded Argo dataset made at Scripps Institution of Oceanography (Roemmich and
Gilson, 2009), the Reynolds SST dataset, and the AVISO dataset. The Argo grid and the
Reynolds grids are available from 2004 to the previous month, with updates available after the
15 th of the month. The AVISO dataset covers the period of 2004 to October 2009 (soon to be
updated through March 2010). Additionally, there is a near real time Argo dataset available with
the most recent data in the past 10 days for the equatorial region. It is possible to create map
plots, section plots, time series, line drawings and a few simple products. Both postscript and
jpg outputs are available for plots that are created using the Atlas. Besides giving a quick view
of the datasets, the Atlas is a great way to compare datasets quickly. The user can easily
create similar plots with different datasets within the Atlas or the user can output a plot similar to
one from another dataset. The intended audience for the Atlas includes teachers and students,
government officials and scientists. To make the Atlas more appealing to classrooms, we are
developing a MAC version which should be available soon. Another new feature that will be
ready soon is the option to create an output file in ascii or netcdf that contains the data used to
make the desired plot. We are also working on maps of temperature and salinity on density
surfaces. To find out more details, visit the website at:
http://www.argo.ucsd.edu/Marine_Atlas.html. Feedback is always welcome.
7.6 1-page document on sustaining Argo
D. Roemmich reminded the AST of the 1-page document on sustaining Argo that was prepared
for AST-11. He said that he had used it during the year and that it had been recently updated
after other AST members had reviewed it. He acknowledged that it was very dense and not
appropriate for a lay person and wondered if Argo needed something else that could be simpler
and given out to lay people. A few AST members agreed to review the document further and to
see if a separate document could be created for lay people.
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