The first paper introducing this issue is presenting the MyOcean InSitu Thematic Assembly Center (TAC) which is collecting and carrying out quality control on In Situ data in a homogeneous manner and provides access to In Situ observations of core parameters in order to characterize ocean state and its variability, thus contributing to initialization, forcing, assimilation and validation of ocean numerical models.

Next paper by Kokoszka is using the MyOcean Observati on InSitu Thematic Assembly Center (TAC) Products in order to illustrate a strong wind event in the North East Atlantic in February 2013. Wind bursts over 100 km/h occurred along the French Atlantic Coast on February 6th. A possible sea surface temperature cooling is illustrated.

Next paper by Lebreton is dealing with the French Argo float deployment from opportunity vessels. In 2012, Coriolis has deployed more than 120 floats using sailing, military or educational vessels. Deploying from opportunity vessels requires developing clear deployment procedures for teams not familiar with Argo floats, training such teams to detect any anomaly in the deployment and participating to outreach activities.

Turpin et al. are then presenting MOOSE: A Mediterranean Ocean Observing System on Environment that has been set up as an interactive, distributed and integrated observatory system of the North West Mediterranean Sea in order to detect and identify long-term environmental anomalies. It will provide data for the MISTRALS project and use the MyOcean data distribution infrastructure from the InSitu Thematic Assembly Center (TAC).

Reverdin et al. follow with the presentation of SPURS, an experiment dedicated at improving our understanding of the processes controlling surface salinity in the region of maximum surface salinity of the North Atlantic subtropical region and at seeking how well remote sensing data can contribute in monitoring and unraveling those processes. This includes a research cruise, STRASSE on board the French RV Thalassa, with a variety of measurements of the upper ocean transmitted in real time, and a contribution to the overall observing arrays of 10 surface drifters, of 7 Argo floats, the use of two merchant vessels crossing the area equipped with thermosalinographs and occasionally collecting XBT profi les.

Finally, Leymarie et al. are presenting the new ProvBioII float with extended capacities among which a double board architecture as well as additional battery and connectors. Collaboration between LOV, NKE and Ifremer, and the opportunity off ered by the remOcean and NAOS projects, lead to the development of this new float with extended functionalities. The extra on-board battery and the Iridium RUDICS telemetry allow longer missions and a large amount of data per cycle. Having a large panel of biogeochemical sensors on the same float also opens new opportunities to deeply understand natural cycles.

We will meet again next year in April 2014 for a new jointly coordinated Newsletter between Mercator Ocean and Coriolis.

We wish you a pleasant reading,

Laurence Crosnier and Sylvie Pouliquen, Editors.

• MyOcean In Situ TAC: A new in situ service for operational and research communities
• Using In Situ TAC products to view the early February 2013 Storm over the Iberian Biscay Irish (IBI) area.
• French Argo float deployment from opportunity vessels in 2012
• MOOSE: Mediterranean data management link with Coriolis
• European contributions to SPURS (Salinity Processes in the Upper Ocean regional Study): Research cruise STRASSE, Argo and Provbio floats, surface drifters, ships of opportunity
• Development and validation of the new ProvBioII float