Shigeki Hosoda (JAMSTEC) Motivation: After achievement of 3000 floats in the global ocean, Japan Argo community was delay to show any next plan. Also, decreasing the fund of Japan Argo (especially in JAMSTEC) makes us become difficult to continue Core Argo mission. Symposium and Forum: To encourage Japan Argo and discuss its future direction, we held one symposium and two forums in 2010 with a lot of scientists, governmental officers and observing instrument makers. Future direction: Through the discussion we could summarize a future direction of Japan Argo, following the discussion in OceanObs 09. 1) To deploy Argo float continuously for the contribution of Core Argo. 2) To construct new observing system (trial) to investigate mesoscale phenomena which is related to physical and biogeochemical variations. JAMSTEC s plan: JAMSTEC will start a project of special float observation from next FY (Apr. 2011), Western North Pacific Integrated Physical- Biogeochemical Ocean Observation Experiment (INBOX) in corporation with the other research teams.
Shigeki Hosoda (JAMSTEC) Beached Argo float issue is one of complex problems on Argo deployment. How are they handled in the foreign countries? (1) JAMSTEC is deploying a lot of floats in the open ocean such as the Pacific, Indian Oceans, occasionally beaching or picking up floats on the coastal area not only in Japan but in foreign countries. (2) Also, since Japan has long coastal lines, sometime foreign PI s floats are beached or picked up by Japanese fishermen. Here is introduction of our experiences following the two cases: Recovery of JAMSTEC s float at the coast of foreign country Recovery of the other country s float at the coast of Japan (in the case of foreign PI )
1) Beached or recovered JAMSTEC s floats at the coast of foreign countries * March 2006 at Philippine: Coast Guard of Philippine contacted us via AIC to inform JAMSTEC s beached float which was picked up by fisherman Mr. Shikama who was in charge of JAMSTEC s deployment went to Philippine and contacted the CG to receive the float (keeping at CG) March 2007 at Hawaii: US Navy contacted us via AIC and informed about recovery of a JAMSTEC s float. JAMSTEC s technician went to Hawaii and contacted US Navy to switch off and receive it (keeping at US Navy) April 2009 at Oregon, U.S.: A fisherman caught JAMSTEC s float at the Oregon beach and asked to keep it at US NOAA Fishery (Oregon). The Fishery contacted us via AIC. JAMSTEC asked the Fishery to send back to JAMSTEC
2) Beached and recovered foreign PI s floats at the coast of Japan May 2005 at the coast of Japan Sea (Aomori): A local fisherman found a beached float (PI: KORDI) and informed Japan Fishery Agency. JFA asked JAMSTEC about the float (PI etc.). Already the float was threw away. November 2007 at Southwestern islands: Japan CG found a beached float of US Navy and asked JAMSTEC (PI, how to handle, etc.) JAMSTEC found the PI and informed US Navy. Following the suggestion from US Navy, the float was re-deployed off the coast. October 2009 at the coast of Japan Sea: A local fisherman picked up a float and informed Japan CG, kept it at local fisherman s cooperative. Japan CG asked JAMSTEC to inform AIC. JAMSTEC contacted PI (KMA) via AIC and advised PI for receive. A lot of local fisherman and local CGs of Japan don t know about Argo float. Also, Japan has no domestic low for foreign PI s floats (Who keep the float, inform AIC and PI?). Is there good procedure of such floats without domestic law s trouble?
Leaflet of Argo float for local CG was made in collaboration with JAMSTEC and JCG (in Japanese) Important contents: Purpose of Argo float Characteristics of Argo float No explosion Contact point/person The leaflet were distributed to local CG of Japan to give a knowledge of Argo floats.