Critical global ocean monitoring program struggling to stay afloat without funding promises, warn scientists

The Argo array of ocean floats supported by 31 countries has 'revolutionised' our understanding of the oceans but its future is uncertain

Right now, roughly a kilometre below the surface of an ocean near you, a yellow cylinder about the size of a golf bag is taking measurements of the temperature and saltiness of the water.

Every couple of days, the float will drop deeper - down to two kilometres - and then rise to the surface to transmit its data, before disappearing back into the depths to do the whole thing again.