The automatic ocean sensors such as those deployed near Kiribati are equipped with a satellite phone, enabling real-time data transmission to scientists on shore who use it for oceanographic, climate and fisheries research, as well as weather prediction and school education.
The international array of Argo floats consists of more than 3,000 robots in all parts of the world's ocean, a collaborative effort between 32 countries.
June 2012: The Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) has announced that 13 ocean robots were deployed in equatorial waters near Kiribati to conduct ocean monitoring. The robots, automatic ocean sensors known as Argo floats, will enable scientists to monitor the ocean processes behind El Niño and La Niña events.
The Argo floats collect temperature and salinity data between 2,000 metres (6000 feet) of depth and the ocean surface. Each Argo float is equipped with a satellite phone, enabling real-time data transmission to scientists on shore who use it for oceanographic, climate and fisheries research, as well as weather prediction and school education. The international array of Argo floats consists of more than 3,000 robots in all parts of the world’s ocean, a collaborative effort between 32 countries. [SPREP Release]