January 2023

Three GO-BGC and seven SOCCOM floats were deployed from the IBRV Araon between Hobart Australia and the Ross Sea ice shelf in Antacrtica as part of the Southern Ocean Long-term Observation and MONitoring (SOLOMON) cruise.  The goal of the SOLOMON expedition is to understand the current status of heat and carbon uptake capacity in the West Antarctic region and investigate the variability of material cycles and marine ecosystem response. The Araon conducted reseach around Antarctica, but as the ship transited from Australia to Antarctica, three GO-BGC floats were deployed.

The GO-BGC program was fortunate to have Jenn Magnusson onboard the ship and blogging for the entire cruise. Check out Jenn’s blogs and images on our Expedition Logs page.

Float status including number of completed profiles to date is available in the Float Status Table.

Associated documentation, shipboard validation data sets (if collected), and float data sets are available on our Shipboard Calibration and Validation Datasets page.

Floats deployed from the Araon as part of the SOLOMon expedition were adopted by schools in Missouri and North Carolina. Check out all adopted floats on the Adopt-a-float data table, photos of floats can be found on our Flickr page.

photo of the float Angel Ice Cream Float being supported by two crew

Angel Ice Cream Float was deployed in the Southern Ocean from the IBRV Araon and has completed many useful profiles.

photo of float and computer with student art

Angel Ice Cream Float‘s original artwork transferred to the float.

closeup of artwork on the HK Leo float

Float HK Leo was adopted by Fort Zumwalt East High School in St. Peters Missouri proving that you can do oceanography from anywhere.

The float HK Leo ready to deploy being supported by a crew member on the deck

HK Leo being deployed.  HK Leo’s new home is the Southern Ocean.

Photo of two crew posing with the float Davie Dolphin

Davis Drive Davie Dolphin has left the ship!

map showing the location of the Davie Drive Davis Dolphin float

Follow float Davis Drive Davie Dolphin as it travels the Southern Ocean.