- National priorities
- Projects & funding schemes
- Participating laboratories
- Funding agencies
- National contact
The Japanese contribution to the global Biogeochemical-Argo (BGC Argo) program is coordinated within the Japan-Argo consortium, where national priorities are defined.
- The overall priorities of Japan's BGC Argo align closely with those defined at the international level, focusing on scientific and societal questions, as well as float mission configuration.
- Preferred deployment areas include the North Pacific, the South Pacific, possibly the Indian Ocean, and the Arctic Ocean.
- A strong emphasis on data management and quality control is a top priority for the BGC Argo activity in Japan, closely linked to the Argo data management team.
The contribution of Japan to the global BGC Argo program is supported through various sources of funding.
- Yearly funding: There are no specific budget limitations for BGC Argo floats. Some institutes (e.g., JAMSTEC) and universities (e.g., Tohoku University) make decisions to deploy floats for their scientific research. Currently, only a small number of BGC Argo floats are on missions for various scientific purposes.
- Project-based funding: Some national and private competitive funds may be available for deploying BGC Argo floats, but it depends on the proposals. In general, a few floats could be supported by each fund.
- Long-term commitments: As of May 2016, Japan lacks a robust project and funding scheme for BGC Argo. The G7 statement made in 2016 may lead to a more suitable situation for the deployment of BGC (and Deep) Argo floats.
