Argos Satellite Tracking System
A satellite system that tracks wildlife and ocean instruments from tiny transmitters; more than 8,000 animals tracked every month (CLS figures).
Image: NASA (2010-5237).
Last reviewed: 4 sources cited
Explain Like I'm 10
- Scientists put a tiny radio tag on a turtle, bird or whale.
- Satellites pick up the tag's signal and work out where the animal is.
- Knowing where animals travel helps people protect them.
The Five W's of Argos
Who
NOAA, France's space agency CNES, EUMETSAT and the Indian Space Research Organisation run Argos together. CNES subsidiaries CLS and Kinéis in Toulouse process the data and deliver it to users.
What
Instruments from CNES fly on NOAA, EUMETSAT and ISRO polar-orbiting satellites and pick up signals from small transmitters on animals, buoys and floats.
When
Today nearly 13,000 active Argos platforms collect data for about 2,000 projects. New Argos-4 instruments are joining in the 2020s.
Where
More than 100 countries use the system, including in remote areas.
Why
Knowing where animals go is vital for conservation, land management and fighting poaching (CLS).
Source: CLS Argos, Wildlife monitoring
Impact Statement
Agency solution · active
More than 8,000 animals are tracked every month, and more than 300,000 animals have been tracked with Argos (CLS figures).
Source: CLS Argos, Wildlife monitoring
For Further Information: NOAA OSPO, Argos Data Collection System
Argos bird trackers can weigh as little as 2 grams, enough to follow nearly 3,500 bird species (CLS figures).
How This Saves People & the Planet
For People
Argos also relays data from ocean buoys and floats used in weather and ocean science (NOAA).
Source: NOAA OSPO, Argos Data Collection System
For Nature
Tracking migrations helps scientists understand threats to wildlife and plan conservation measures (CLS).
Source: CLS Argos, Wildlife monitoring
Get Involved With Argos
Want to go deeper? CLS has the full Argos story.
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This is a public mission, so there is nothing to donate. You can explore its free data or join a citizen science project.