What's New
Recent Publications
Vieira, L. and Morgado, F. (2025). Zooplankton Challenges in a Changing World, Volume 1: A Worldwide Perspective and Research Approach Taylor & Francis »
Le Vine, D., Lang, R., Li, M., Dinnat, E., Boutin, J. and Zhou, Y. (2025). The Dielectric Constant of Sea Water at P-Band for Salinity From 0 to 150 pss IEEE »
Hochet, A., Tajouri, S., Kolodziejczyk, N. and Llovel, W. (2025). Mechanisms of Tropical Sea Surface Salinity Variations at Seasonal Timescales AGU »
Ngakala, R., Alory, G., Da-Allada, C., Dadou, I., Cardot, C., Morvan, G., Jouanno, J., Illig, S. and Baloïtcha, E. (2025). Seasonal Mixed Layer Temperature in the Congolese Upwelling System AGU »
Vinogradova, N., Pavelsky, T., Farrar, J.T., Hossain, F. and Fu, L.-L. (2025). A New Look at Earth’s Water and Energy with SWOT Springer »
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
Mesoscale Eddies
Explore ocean motion at the "middle" scale »
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 »
