44 G.M.R. ManzellaandMFS-VOS Group
Although physical, chemical and biological data could be included in the operational acquisition system, the technology for the different parameters acquisition is
at a different stage of development. In principle, it is possible to acquire physical,
chemical and biological data in the upper layer (few hundred meters), however,
instrument suitability varies greatly, and cost effectiveness suggest to limit the
amount of data to few parameters. While there are few problems in the temperature
and salinity profiles by using expendable probes, for what concern the chemical
and biological data (e.g. nutrients and chlorophyll) only surface data can be collected at a low cost, although the technology is increasing our capabilities to collect
this data at depth (Molinari, 1999).
The acquisition system onboard the ship could also include a rough quality control procedure and may also contain a software for data decimation, which is due to
data transmis sion limitations. In fact there is, actually, a limitation on satellite capability to store and transmit data, which has to be taken into account.
3.4.1 Definitions
A number ofworking definitions are given in oceanography (UNESCO, 1999):
-for the oceans operational data are in 'real time' when delivered before 30 days
from the collection time,
-'timely data' are those which continue to be representative ofthe observed environmental conditions,
-'operational products' are those prepared for users in a timely way on a regular
basis.
3.4.2 Sampling strategies
Sampling strategies for in situ near real time monitoring have progressed quite
rapidly in the past decade (Molinari, 1999). One example of global ocean monitoring network is the TAO/TRITON array (Mc Phaden, 1995) which consists of severai surface buoy deep mooring stations in the tropical Pacific. Data are available
in near real time on internet and Web as well as products for different users and
forecasts.
Together with the fixed buoy mooring strategy there is also a network of meteorological drifting buoys which transmit in real time and the Ship of Opportunity
Network which is the major concern of this paper (Rossby et al., 1995). This system uses commercial ship routes to monitor surface parameters and temperature
profiles in the first kilometer ofthe water column. From the ships, the data, through
the satellites, reaches the collecting centres, where a quality control must assure the
dissemination of quality data to users (Fig. 3.3).
The sampling strategies that have been developed for the ships of opportunity
network have some weB defined scientific rationales. Among these there is the
acknowledgement that the environment is changing and that there is an evaluation
the network. Three modes of sampling have attracted the main attention (Smith et
al., 1999):
Although physical, chemical and biological data could be included in the operational acquisition system, the technology for the different parameters acquisition is
at a different stage of development. In principle, it is possible to acquire physical,
chemical and biological data in the upper layer (few hundred meters), however,
instrument suitability varies greatly, and cost effectiveness suggest to limit the
amount of data to few parameters. While there are few problems in the temperature
and salinity profiles by using expendable probes, for what concern the chemical
and biological data (e.g. nutrients and chlorophyll) only surface data can be collected at a low cost, although the technology is increasing our capabilities to collect
this data at depth (Molinari, 1999).
The acquisition system onboard the ship could also include a rough quality control procedure and may also contain a software for data decimation, which is due to
data transmis sion limitations. In fact there is, actually, a limitation on satellite capability to store and transmit data, which has to be taken into account.
3.4.1 Definitions
A number ofworking definitions are given in oceanography (UNESCO, 1999):
-for the oceans operational data are in 'real time' when delivered before 30 days
from the collection time,
-'timely data' are those which continue to be representative ofthe observed environmental conditions,
-'operational products' are those prepared for users in a timely way on a regular
basis.
3.4.2 Sampling strategies
Sampling strategies for in situ near real time monitoring have progressed quite
rapidly in the past decade (Molinari, 1999). One example of global ocean monitoring network is the TAO/TRITON array (Mc Phaden, 1995) which consists of severai surface buoy deep mooring stations in the tropical Pacific. Data are available
in near real time on internet and Web as well as products for different users and
forecasts.
Together with the fixed buoy mooring strategy there is also a network of meteorological drifting buoys which transmit in real time and the Ship of Opportunity
Network which is the major concern of this paper (Rossby et al., 1995). This system uses commercial ship routes to monitor surface parameters and temperature
profiles in the first kilometer ofthe water column. From the ships, the data, through
the satellites, reaches the collecting centres, where a quality control must assure the
dissemination of quality data to users (Fig. 3.3).
The sampling strategies that have been developed for the ships of opportunity
network have some weB defined scientific rationales. Among these there is the
acknowledgement that the environment is changing and that there is an evaluation
the network. Three modes of sampling have attracted the main attention (Smith et
al., 1999):