13 min read·
Argo floats vs satellite altimetry vs reanalysis models: comparing ocean heat uptake measurement approaches
The global Argo network of 4,000+ profiling floats provides in-situ temperature data to 2,000 m depth, while satellite altimetry infers heat content from sea-surface height changes at 10-day resolution. Reanalysis products blend both with models but introduce interpolation uncertainties of 0.2–0.5 W/m². This comparison evaluates accuracy, spatial coverage, latency, and cost for organizations integrating ocean heat data into climate risk assessments.