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Story: Ocean currents and tides

Argo smart float

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Argo smart float

A scientist prepares an Argo smart float for deployment. Argo is a global network which, when complete, will have 3,000 free-drifting floats to measure the temperature and salinity of the upper 2 kilometres of the ocean. In 2003–4 more than 100 floats were set into the sea from New Zealand research vessels. Data from the floats will be vital in measuring ocean temperatures, global climate change, and interactions between the atmosphere and oceans.

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NIWA – National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research

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How to cite this page

Craig Stevens and Stephen Chiswell, Ocean currents and tides – Measuring the ocean, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/5944/argo-smart-float (accessed 25 June 2026).

Story by Craig Stevens and Stephen Chiswell, published 2 March 2009.