First BGC float for Poland!

From 20^th to 30^th September, IOPAN conducted its standard quarterly monitoring cruise in the South Baltic to study its hydrography and dynamics. Among two floats deployed from the r/v Oceania, the float WMO 1902683  was the first BGC float for Poland. In addition to standard CTD, the float carries sensors to measure Chlorophyll-a, downwelling irradiance, CDOM and dissolved oxygen. IOPAN had previously deployed Core argo floats equipped with an oxygen sensor to study the dynamics of the oxygen content in various layers in the Southern Baltic Sea. However this float is the first one of the Polish fleet equipped with more BGC sensors. This will significantly increase our ability to understand changes of environmental conditions in this region of the Baltic Sea.

BGC Polish float deployed by IOPAN crew. © D. Rak , IOPAN

Float preparation in the pool. © D. Dobler, Euro-Argo

Before deployment, the Euro-Argo ERIC Office team had performed acceptance tests in Ifremer pool in August, to check the float and sensors were fully operational.

This BGC float continues to strengthen the effort started by the Euro-Argo community to move towards the implementation of OneArgo. This year, Argo-Poland deployed five floats, three in Baltic Sea and two in Greenland Sea as its contribution to Euro-Argo.

IOPAN will deploy a second BGC float in 2024 during its annual summer Arctic experiment cruise AREX.

The 2023 year has been a year of accomplishment for Poland. Thanks to the joint efforts of the Ministry of Education and Science (MEiN) and the Polish community of sea and ocean researchers, Poland became a full member of the European Research Infrastructure Consortium (Euro-Argo ERIC) in June 2023.