Ocean Science www.ocean-sci.net 1812-0784 1812-0792 3 2 2007 10.5194/os-3-205-2007 http://www.ocean-sci.net/3/205/2007/ http://www.ocean-sci.net/3/205/2007/os-3-205-2007.html http://www.ocean-sci.net/3/205/2007/os-3-205-2007.pdf 205 222 2007-05-04 Simulations of ARGO profilers and of surface floating objects: applications in MFSTEP C. Pizzigalli V. Rupolo rupolo@casaccia.enea.it Climate Department, ENEA, Via Anguillarese 301 00060 Rome, Italy In this work we describe part of the activities performed in the MFSTEP project by means of numerical simulations of ARGO profilers and surface floating objects. Simulations of ARGO floats were used to define the optimal time cycling in order to maximize independent observations of vertical profiles of temperature and salinity and to minimize the error on the estimate of the velocity at the parking depth of the profilers. 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