National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration
United States Department of Commerce

Large Scale Ocean Physics

Large Scale Ocean Physics

Overview

The Large-Scale Ocean Physics group monitors and studies the distribution and variations in ocean temperature, salinity, oxygen, and currents – and their relations to climate and ocean dynamics. The group monitors and conducts research on ocean heat changes and their impacts, including sea level rise and climate sensitivity, using data from the global Argo floats collected since 2000, as well as deep hydrographic profiles along oceanographic transects occupied by the Repeat Hydrography Program, together with historical and satellite ocean observations. The group also  works to increase vertical resolution and profiling depth of Argo floats to improve their usefulness for ocean analyses. They started deploying high vertical resolution Iridium floats in 2009. They are a strong proponent of ”Deep Argo,” an expansion of Argo’s capabilities to depths of up to six kilometers.

Scientific Products