Float WMO_ID: 5901182

Float WMO_ID: 5901182




Table of Contents

  1. Float Information
  2. Float Location
  3. Surface Pressure
  4. Potential Temperature-Salinity Plot
  5. Temperature-Salinity Comparison with Nearby Floats
  6. Inversions
  7. Salt Hooks
  8. Parameter Sections and Initial QC Notes
  9. WJO/OW Results
  10. Anomaly Plot
  11. Comparison with Nearby Argo
  12. Salinity Drift Assessment
  13. Float Summary



Section 1: Float Information

The table below provides basic information about the float, including primary sensors, mission parameters and current status of profiles.


Institute CSIRO
Principal InvestigatorSusan Wijffels
Pressure SensorDruck (serial number=10496)
CTD SensorAPEX-SBE-41 (serial number=2934)
CTD Sampling ModeBurst Sampler
Controller BoardAPF 8
Additional Sensors/SoftwareNone
Park Depth1000 m
Profile Depth2000 m
Launch Date29-11-2006
Number of D-moded Profiles118
Calibration Date16-08-2010
Pressure DriftSurface Pressure Offset corrected
Salinity DriftNo salinity drift detected





















Section 2: Float Location

Float trajectory and location plot

This float was deployed in the Southern Ocean to the south of Tasmania, in a region bounded by 138 to 153 ºE and 43 to 51 ºS.


Section 3: Reported Surface Pressure

The surface pressure for this float is shown in the plot below.


Surface Pressure plot

Section 4: Potential Temperature-Salinity Plot

Potential Temperature-Salinity (a), Location (b, Max Temperature (c) and Sea Surface Salinity (d) plots located below.

Potential Temperature-Salinity, Location and Max Temperature and Sea Surface Salinity plots

Surface temperatures generally varied between 8 and 18 ºC and surface salinities from 34.3 to 34.7.


The plot below shows the potential-temperature/salinity relationship for the deepest theta levels where the relationship between the two parameters should show the least variation.

Potential Temperature-Salinity deepest theta levels plot

There is large variability at depth in these profiles but this looks reasonable.


Section 5: Temperature-Salinity Comparison with Nearby Floats

The two plots below show a). the location of this float (black circles) in relation to the position of other nearby argo floats (coloured circles) and b). The potential-temperature/salinity curve for this float (in black) compared to nearby argo floats (coloured).

Potential Temperature-Salinity nearby comparison plot

The potential-temperature/salinity relation for the deepest theta levels for this float (in black) and nearby argo floats (coloured) is displayed below.


Potential Temperature-Salinity nearby deep comparison plot

There is extremely high variability in the deep salinity structure between neighbouring floats (about 0.06 psu). The range in salinity for this float is about 0.02 psu. Even though the profiles cover such a huge spread this is reasonable given the distance covered. Compared to neighbouring profiles, these look reasonable.


Section 6: Inversions

There were inversions in profiles; 75,98,109. These were not significant and were not flagged.


Section 7: Salt Hooks

Salt hooks were located in profiles; 2,3,5,7,9,10,12,14,16,18,23,25,28,30,32,33,36,38,40,43,44,46,49,51,53,57,60,61,64,66,67,69,71,73,75,77,79,81,83,85,87,88,90,92,95,97,98,101,103,105,107,109,111,113,116. These were flagged as QC 4 for both T & S.


Section 8: Parameter Sections and Initial QC Notes

The float may have grounded on profile 31 and the bottom value was flagged as QC=4 for both T & S. A spike was flagged in the mixed layer of profile 41 as QC=4 for both T & S.


Float trajectory overlayed on bathymetry, (left) and over climatological salinity (right)
Float trajectory and bathymetry plot Float trajectory and salinity plot

Potential temperature section with time, (left) surface to 2000m and (right) surface to 500m

Potential Temperature Plot - Full Depth Range Potential Temperature Plot - Surface to 500m

Salinity section with time, (left) surface to 2000m and (right) surface to 500m

Salinity Plot - Full Depth Range Salinity Plot - Surface to 500m

Potential density section with time, (left) surface to 2000m and (right) surface to 500m

Potential Density Plot - Full Depth Range Potential Density Plot - Surface to 500m

Section 9: WJO/OW Results

The plot below shows the analysis of salinity drift using the WJO/OW software.


WJO/OW plot

This float requires no correction.


Section 10: Anomaly Plots

The four plots below show the salinity anomalies on theta surfaces compared to (a) the Gouretski and Kolterman climatology, (b) the CARS (CSIRO Atlas of Regional Seas)/WOA (World Ocean Atlas) climatology, (c) the anomalies within the float series itself, (i.e. the salinity anomaly of each profile from the mean profile average for the float and (d) the raw float salinity compared to the CARS and G&K climatological salinity on a deep theta surface.


Anomaly Plot

This float is very close to CARS new climatology.


Section 11: Comparison with Nearby Argo

The plots below show the raw float salinity data (solid blue line) compared to neighbouring argo floats (coloured symbols) on a deep potential temperature surface. The locality map shows the location of the profiles for this float and for neighbouring floats.


Nearby Argo Comparison Plot Nearby Argo Location Plot

This float is in the middle of the argo envelope and looks fine.


Section 12: Salinity Drift Assessment

This float required no salinity drift correction.



Section 13: Float Summary

Final Check Plot

The plot below summarises the QC flags and salinity differences for the raw and adjusted salinity fields in the final delayed mode files submitted to the GDAC.



Created 16-08-2010