What's New
Recent Publications
Li, W., Wang, Z., Lee, G., and Huang, H. (2024). Ecological and Sediment Dynamics Response to Typhoons Passing from the East and West Sides of the Changjiang (Yangtze River) Estuary and its Adjacent Sea Area ScienceDirect »
Shao, J., Huang, S., Chen, Y., Qi, J., Wang, Y., Wu, S., Liu, R., and Du, Z. (2023). Satellite-Based Global Sea Surface Oxygen Mapping and Interpretation with Spatiotemporal Machine Learning ACS »
Chi, N.-H., Thompson, E., Chen, H., Shcherbina, A., Bingham, F., and Rainville, L. (2023). Spatiotemporal Variability of Rainfall and Surface Salinity in the Eastern Pacific Fresh Pool: A Joint In Situ and Satellite Analysis During the SPURS-2 Field Campaign AGU »
Bytheway, J., Thompson, E., Yang, J., and Chen, H. (2023). Evaluation of the RainFARM Statistical Downscaling Technique Applied to IMERG over Global Oceans Using Passive Aquatic Listener In Situ Rain Measurements AMS »
Anejinou, O., Ebinne, E., and Ajibola-James, O. (2023). Automated Retrieval of Sea Surface Salinity from Satellite Data and Investigation of the Spatio-Temporal Variation of Ocean Salinity Across the West and Central African Coasts IHO »
Salt is essential
Circulating through our bodies and our seas, it impacts the health of people and the planet. Salt dissolved in seawater – measured as salinity – drives currents that distribute heat and carbon around the globe. So, salt not only preserves our food, it helps to preserve our climate by contributing to global ocean circulation.
Earth is an ocean planet
Key water cycle processes – precipitation and evaporation – mostly occur over the ocean. Thus, monitoring sea surface salinity patterns provides important clues about changes in our environment.
NASA observes salinity
Merging data from satellites and other instruments, our mission is to better understand ocean circulation, the water cycle, and climate.
How Salty Are You…?
Salinity Stories
MAPS
HIGHLIGHTS
Salt & The Wind
Exploring ties between wind, ocean layers and dissolved salt in our seas »
Salinity & Ocean Life
Using salinity to find ocean organisms »
Water Cycle, Ocean Change & Climate
A continual cycle of evaporation and rain »
Seasons of Salinity
The annual rise and fall of salinity »
Salinity Fronts
Fronts are the hot spots of marine life »
Oscillations & Dipoles
Earth's ocean and atmosphere interact in countless ways »
High Latitudes
Salinity is a "key ingredient" for high-latitude ocean ecological communities »
Salinity & Soil Moisture: Water Cycle Links
Water evaporating from the ocean sustains precipitation on land »
Monitoring Total Alkalinity & Ocean Acidification
Total alkalinity (TA) is needed to assess ocean acidification »
Air-Sea Interactions: Hurricanes
How these storms may intensify »
River Plumes, Marginal Seas & Coasts
Connecting land-based events to the ocean »
GALLERY
LEARN MORE
The Role of Salt
More than just a seasoning »
Following the Water Cycle
Vital to life - critical to understand »
Density and Ocean Circulation
Salinity and temperature drive the ocean's motion »
Salinity’s Connections to Climate
Salinity - a driving force for weather and climate »
Measuring Salinity
The perspective from space »
