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APS Working to Further Oceanic Data Collection in Gabon

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS090420-15
Release Date: 4/20/2009 3:29:00 PM

By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Matthew Bookwalter, Africa Partnership Station Nashville Public Affairs

LIBREVILLE, Gabon (NNS) -- Africa Partnership Station (APS) Nashville teamed up with the International Argo Program and the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to donate three Argo Solo Floats to the government of Gabon on April 16.

The Argo floats, which will be deployed off the coast of Gabon, will collect and transmit oceanic data on salinity and temperature. The data is used to enhance the understanding of ocean currents and processes, climate changes, oceanographic patterns, marine meteorology and coastal erosion.

"APS focuses on developing partnerships to achieve the international goals of maritime safety and security," said U.S. Ambassador to Gabon Eunice Reddick. "To this end, conferences and workshops directed at maritime safety and security are being conducted in Gabon by an international staff aboard USS Nashville. The Argo buoy donation is an important component of the APS program."

Even though there are approximately 3,000 floats worldwide, the Gulf of Guinea is an under-researched area of the ocean. These three donated floats will contribute to developing oceanic knowledge of the area.

"We are pleased to have the opportunity to present these floats to the government of Gabon," said APS Commander Capt. Cindy Thebaud during a press conference. "The data collected will help increase the understanding of the maritime environment for the people who live and work along the coast."

Argo brings together 50 different research agencies from 26 different countries to make this program work.

"This research is essential to the improvement of maritime safety and security in the Gulf of Guinea," said Dr. Augustus Vogel, maritime partner liaison for CNA-C6F, embarked with APS Nashville. "As in the United States, research in Africa must be a key contributor to developing good ocean policy."

Each float is designed to sink and collect data as deep as 2 kilometers while running on a 10-day cycle. The buoys move with water currents and surface every 10 days to transmit the recorded data to satellites on the same cycle.

With the information available free of charge, ocean researchers and government organizations will be able to better understand how to keep their waters safe and clean.

APS is a multinational initiative developed by Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Africa which is designed to work cooperatively with U.S., South American, European and African partners to enhance maritime safety and security on the African continent. It is a concept that provides a unique venue to align maritime engagements by employing a diverse team of maritime professionals in a variety of military capacities and civilian fields such as fisheries management, port security and meteorology.