9d. Attachment 1 Technical Specification_1305M322RNRMA0025.pdf

Argo Floats

General Technical Specifications:

Core Argo floats and Biogeochemical Argo floats (hereafter floats) must be capable of profiling from the ocean surface to pressures of at least 2000 dbar with one cycle nominally every 10 days.

The floats should be capable of parking below the ocean surface at a programmable, set pressure for much of each cycle, with descent and ascent taking no more than 24-hours each for a 0-2000 dbar cycle.

The floats must be able to determine their position with an accuracy of a few meters using GPS with a backup lower quality Iridium position fix.

The floats must be able determine their position and transmit their scientific, engineering, and other data for each profile via the Iridium system within a short (< 30 minutes) surface time.

All sensor sampling pressures and modes of operation (continuous or spot sampling) must be programmable.

The floats must be capable of detecting and avoiding sea ice, and of storing at least 36 profiles for transmission when they next encounter ice-free conditions.

The floats must be capable of being reprogrammed remotely via Iridium communications with simple commands to reset their mission (e.g., sampling protocols, parking pressure, profiling pressure, cycle time, and so on).

The floats must be capable of testing their subsystems upon command and reporting their test results within a 2-hour or shorter window.

Float packaging compatibility with forklifts/pallet jacks is required.

The floats must be delivered well-packed in durable shipping crates that can be legally shipped internationally.

Floats must include certification that they meet IATA requirements for air shipping eligibility.

The vendor should submit evidence that the floats can (and have, including performance in the ocean) meet these requirements. Details on the float energy storage (MJ in float batteries) and the energy budget (KJ per 0-2000 dbar cycle including operation and data transmission for all sensor data) should be provided.

0392 - Core Argo Floats

Additional Technical Specifications for 0392 - Core Argo Floats:

The floats must be equipped with conductivity-temperature-depth (hereafter CTD) sensors capable of measuring continuously from 2000 dbar to within 4 (and preferably 1) dbar of the

Attachment 1 - Technical Specifications surface and then reporting pressure averaged temperature and salinity values at 2 dbar pressure intervals. An alternative of spot sampling at programmable pressures should also be available.

The floats must have sufficient energy to perform at least 200 (more is better) 10-day cycles from 0-2000 dbar including continuous CTD sampling and data transmission.

The CTD must measure and report temperature to an accuracy of ±0.002 °C, salinity to an accuracy of ±0.01 g kg-1, and pressure to within an accuracy of ±2.5 dbar.

Floats should weigh 26 kg of less (lighter is better).

The floats must be easily deployed from a research vessel by one or two people.

The floats must be delivered by the vendor within 12 months of receipt of order to NOAA/ Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory, 7600 Sand Point Way Bldg. 3, Seattle WA 98115

0228 – Biogeochemical Argo Float

Additional Technical Specifications for 0228 – Biogeochemical Argo Float:

The floats must be equipped with conductivity-temperature-depth (hereafter CTD), pH, oxygen, nitrate, and bio-optical (including particle backscatter and chlorophyll fluorescence) sensors capable of reporting at least at 80 distinct pressures spaced throughout each full-depth profile.

The floats must have sufficient energy to perform at least 200 10-day cycles from 0-2000 dbar including CTD, pH, oxygen, nitrate, and bio-optical sensor sampling and data transmission.

The CTD must measure and report temperature to an accuracy of ±0.002 °C, salinity to an accuracy of ±0.002 ppt, and pressure to within an accuracy of ±2 dbar.

The pH, oxygen, and nitrate sensors must measure and report pH to an accuracy of ±0.05, oxygen to an accuracy of ±3 μmol kg-1 or ±2%, and nitrate to within an accuracy of ±2 μM.

The bio-optical sensor must measure and report particle backscatter to an accuracy of ±0.2% and chlorophyll fluorescence to an accuracy of ±0.2%.

The floats must be easily deployed from a research vessel by one or two people plus a crane operator.

The floats must be delivered by the vendor within 12 months of receipt of order to NOAA/Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory, 7600 Sand Point Way Bldg. 3, Seattle WA 98115