Approved by the State Council, China announced in October 2001 to join the Global Argo Program, and began to make its national Argo Project.

       In April 2002, the “China Argo Project Coordinating Group” was established by State Oceanic Administration (SOA), the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST), China Meteorological Administration (CMA) and Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS).

       Under the group there are 3 Specific Teams: Examining Team, Operational Development Team and Data Team. The establishment of the group provides the organization support for the implementation of China Argo Project.

       China plans to deploy 100-150 floats in Western Pacific and Eastern Indian Oceans during 2002-2006. Then in each later year, 20-30 floats are to be deployed for the network s operation in normal conditions.

       Presently, the fund for the China Argo floats deployment is mostly coming from the MOST, and SOA gives the support of R/V for the floats deploying. The Argo data application research is mainly supported by the NNSF(National Natural Science Foundation of China ) and SOA.

       The Chinese scientists are now looking for a national specific fund for the implement of China Argo Project.

The office of China Argo Real-time Data Center