The MeSOLaB project: an operational Bio-Argo float trajectory forecasting system based on Mercator-Ocean products.

Clément Fontana1, Fabrizio d'Ortenzio1 and Vincent Taillandier1

1 Laboratoire d'Océanographie de Villefranche, UPMC-CNRS, UMR 7093, Villefranche-sur-mer, France

The MeSOLaB project (“Metrics for Lagrangian observation system dedicated to Biogeochemistry”) is a french GMMC-funded initiative aiming to set-up a complete forecasting and hindcasting system to evaluate the performances and the characteristic of a network of biogechemical floats (BioArgo). Mercator-Ocean products are routinely acquired and used to forecast and/or hindcast the lagrangian trajectories of BioArgo floats drifting at their parking depth. Also, biogeochemical variables (such as climatological satellite chlorophyll) might be sampled along computed trajectories. Informations extracted from the system helps in anticipating interactions with float mission parameters (i.e. parking depth, cycling time), with the specific aim to sample a chosen biogeochemical process/event (i.e. bloom).

The system allows also a hindcast approach, which is exploited to evaluate the Bio-Argo deployments on a basin scale. In this work, a complete reanalysis of the Bio-Argo float trajectories deployed in the Mediterranean sea (NAOS project) was performed to assess the system efficiency, the deployment strategies in the Mediterranean and the Mercator-Ocean products on area of interest.

In its forecasting configuration, the prototype system is currently used to follow and monitor the Bio-Argo network. For example, the system is used to choose parking depths, in order to influence the float trajectory in agreement with float mission goal.

The system allows user to submit float positions in real-time through a friendly interface (mobile app or web-based) in order to obtain the corresponding float trajectory hindcast/forecast. Results are then available on a dedicated website ( and sent by email to the concerned user.

Perspectives for this work are very enthusiastic and innovative. Indeed, we can then imagine autonomous interactions between Mercator-Ocean products and float mission parameters. An example of such interaction could be the automatic choice of a parking depth, willing to make the float reach a user-defined target. If this approach was found to be successful, it will certainly improve the emerging Bio-Argo network.