Satellite-based data telemetry and geolocation - Argos enhancements for the coastal ocean

As population density increases in coastal areas, requirements for coastal environmental monitoring have also increased, Effective management of coastal resources requires detailed study of the diverse ecosystems and environments, It also requires monitoring of the environmental impact of human activity, A variety of complementary data collection technologies are required to gather the necessary information, For data collection involving mobile sources over a relatively large area, the satellite-based Argos system has proven to be very effective. In response to unique requirements of data collection in the coastal oceans and other trends, Argos is enhancing its capabilities to enable higher data volumes, two-way communication, and other improvements, Enhancements will. begin with the launch of NOAA-K in 1997, This satellite will carry the first Argos-2 instrument, featuring a wider bandwidth, increased onboard satellite processing capabilities, and a more sensitive onboard receiver, This translates into greater system capacity, higher data throughput, and lower Argos transmitter power requirements. Beginning in 1999, with the launch of the Japanese satellite, ADEOS-2, Argos will introduce Downlink Messaging, This will provide an ability to remotely control platforms, leading to greater flexibility, improved performance, and generally more effective and economical data collection by satellite.