Profiling float

Profiling floats

Profiling floats, such as APEX floats, SOLO floats (including SOLO-TREC), PROVOR floats, and Navis floats (Sea-Bird Scientific), change their buoyancy in order to move vertically through the water column in the ocean to repeatedly collect data that spans a range of depths ("profiles"). Profiling floats can have more than one sensor of the same type on it. A sensor on top of the float will collect data better than one on the bottom if the float is moving vertically through the water column, and a sensor on the bottom will collect data better if the float is descending. These floats are capable of making a few hundred profiles to a maximum depth of 2000 meters before battery exhaustion, and transmit their data to shore via satellite communication each time they surface. Deeper diving models that can reach 6000 meters have been made, deep enough to reach the ocean floor in most locations. A major user of profiling floats is the Argo program, which aims to keep 3000 of them functioning in the ocean at any given time.