1. Report on Argo User’s Workshop at INCOIS
July 20-22, 2008
M. Ravichandran
Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS),
Ministry of Earth Sciences
Hyderabad, India

2. Why National Argo science workshop?
To know and understand
What are the different applications using Argo data in Indian Ocean?
What we have learned from Argo and what we need to learn?
What are the efforts in assimilating Argo in OGCM?
Whether spatial, temporal and vertical sampling is adequate for such applications?
What are the products required for other applications from argo?
Requirement of new parameters from Argo such as Oxygen, chlorophyll, etc

3. Objective
To take stock of utilization of Argo floats data by Indian Scientists
To understand the requirement and/or modification in temporal and spatial distribution of floats and need of additional sensors.
To motivate University students to use Argo data for different applications /studies

4. Participating Institutions:
63 Participants from 17 Institutions/University
Andhra University, Vishakapatnam
Cochin University of Science and Technology, Kochi
Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi
Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore
Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, Pune
Indian Navy
INCOIS, Hyderabad
Ministry of Earth Sciences, New Delhi
Nansen Environmental Research Center, Kochi
National Centre for Antarctic and Ocean Research, Goa
National Centre for Medium Range Forecast, New Delhi
National Institute of Oceanography, Goa
National Remote Sensing Agency, Hyderabad.
Naval Physical and Oceanographic Laboratory, Kochi
Naval Operational Data Processing and Analysis Center, Kochi
Space Application Centre, ISRO, Ahmedabad
University of Hyderbad, Hyderbad
+ Prof. Stephen Riser, University of Washington

5. Sessions Inaugural session Status of Argo project (Global & India)
Indian Ocean Process studies
Indian Ocean dynamics and validation of models
New sensor requirement
Indian Ocean Dipole and Monsoon
26 contributed paper + 5 Invited talks

6. Invited talk
Role of Argo data in monitoring climate change together with Coupled climate models – Prof. J. Srininivasan, IISc
Broad features of the Indian Ocean dynamics and thermodynamics, and some of the outstanding challenging problems – Dr. R R Rao, NPOL
The historical measurements of salinity in the Indian Ocean – Dr. S. R. Shetye, NIO
Development of Argo floats since 1950 interms of Technology - Prof. Stephen Riser, UW, USA
Air-sea interaction over Indian Ocean with special emphasis on Indian Ocean dipole – Prof. B. N. Goswami, IITM

7. Indian Ocean process studies
Buoyancy flux changes in the Bay of Bengal
Upper ocean response of T & S to local atmospheric forcing
Mixed layer variability in Arabian Sea
Delineating upwelling zones,
Role salinity in thermal inversion in Arabian sea
Validation of sonic layer depth
Contribution of halo-steric height in dynamic height
…..

8. Indian Ocean dynamics and validation of models
Impact of summer monsoon ISO in tropical Indian ocean using Argo and OGCM
Surface currents from Argo, altimeter and scatterometer
Validation of OGCM using Argo observations
Analysed Ocean state using Argo and OGCM

9. Indian Ocean dipole and monsoon
Generation and termination of IOD mechanism
Impact of IOD on SSS revealed from Argo,
Role of subsurface Temp anomalies in the SW Indian Ocean during 2006 dipole event
Indian Oean – Monsoon interactions and drought over India in relation to Indian ocean sub-surface features

10. Recommendations & Suggestions
Argo data has been widely utilized to understand the Indian Ocean dynamics, especially Dipole event, understanding the monsoon system in relation to heat content, buoyancy flux of the Indian Ocean and for validation of OGCM.
Studies need to be initiated to assimilate Argo floats in OGCM
In the Bay of Bengal, Argo floats with 5 days cycling period need to be deployed. These observations are to be sustained over a long period by deploying new floats as and when required. These observations are required for studying the intra-seasonal variations of thermo-haline structure.
New Iridium floats with an additional high-resolution CTD are to be deployed in the Bay of Bengal. This additional CTD sensors measures P, T, S at very fine resolution (2 m) from 200 m upto the surface.
Quality control methods followed by various institutions need to be pooled. All such Institutes to provide feedback on quality of data to INCOIS.

11. (Signed by AST co-chairs)
Presented a certificate to ORV Sagarkanya for deploying 100 floats Indian ocean
(Signed by AST co-chairs)

12. Thank you for your kind attention