[21-May-2026] The French Sea Surface Salinity (SSS) Observation Service is the main provider of thermosalinograph (TSG) observations from ships of opportunity at global scale, in real time (RT) for operational oceanography and in delayed time (DT) for research. [21-May-2026] This talk is about reconstructing gridded maps (Level-4) from sparse satellite observations (Level-2/3). Specifically, the VarDyn tool - a physics-informed inversion tool for estimating gridded SSH, SST, and SSS fields from sparse satellite observations - is discussed. [21-May-2026] This talk provides and overview the CCI+SSS (Climate Change Initiative + Sea Surface Salinity) project of the European Space Agency. [21-May-2026] This presentation provides an update on version 3.0 of the Multi-Mission Sea Surface Salinity Optimum Interpolation (OISSS) analysis. OISSS applies Optimum Interpolation (OI) to integrate SSS observations from the Aquarius/SAC-D, SMAP and SMOS satellite missions, producing weekly SSS fields at 0.25° x 0.25° spatial resolution from 2011 to the present. [21-May-2026]

Accurate estimates of ocean surface heat fluxes (OSHF) are essential for assessing andimproving climate projections and supporting adaptation strategies, yet direct measurements are challenging, costly, and not feasible at global scales.

[21-May-2026] NASA’s SMAP L-band radiometer has been supplying the scientific community with high quality ocean measurements of sea surface salinity (SSS) and wind speeds since 2015. Starting in 2023, there has been an increasing level of radio frequency interference (RFI) contaminating SMAP ocean observations which results in spurious retrieved SSS and wind speed values. [21-May-2026]

The concept of Fiduciary Reference Measurements (FRM) has emerged in recent years to describe in-situ measurements that closely resemble what is being sensed by satellite sensors. As satellite remote sensing of sea surface salinity (SSS) is still a comparatively young discipline compared to measurements such as sea surface temperature or ocean color, the last decade has provided rapid advances in our understanding of the variability of salinity within the footprint of a satellite sensor.

[21-May-2026] This presentation discusses how salinity understanding, expertise, and advances in sensing (in situ and in space) are critical for supporting ocean carbon assessments. [21-May-2026]

The lateral exchange of salinity between the shelf and interior ocean contributes to seasonal and interannual variability in both environments. But because the flux is often primarily through cross-isobath eddying motions, quantification of the processes is challenging.

[21-May-2026] The Mississippi River delivers large volumes of freshwater (~18,000 m³/s) to the northern Gulf of Mexico, creating an extensive plume that affects the stratification of the upper ocean, its biogeochemical conditions and its coastal ecosystems. [21-May-2026] Large river discharges and copious rainfall give rise to a shallow, fresh surface layer in parts of the equatorial ocean that mediates air-sea interaction. While the dynamical effects of freshwater are well known, the thermodynamic effects of specifically riverine input remain unclear. [21-May-2026] This talk presents an overview of the findings from a NASA-funded project on global coastal salinity and its linkages to natural and human-driven changes in the hydrological cycle. Ocean sea surface salinity (SSS) has been demonstrated to be a powerful indicator for monitoring changes in the global water cycle. [21-May-2026]

SMOS and SMAP sea surface salinity (SSS) products, in-situ Argo and glider measurements, and outputs of a high-resolution regional ocean circulation model are used to understand near-surface salinity variability along the US West Coast and in the wider Northeast Pacific (NEP) region.

[20-May-2026] This talk provides an overview of the CIMR mission with a specific emphasis on details and limitations of SSS retrievals. [20-May-2026]

The salinity of polar oceans is undergoing significant changes due to sea ice melt and increased continental runoff, which have resulted in a decrease in sea surface salinity (SSS) across most regions of the Arctic Ocean, intensifying upper ocean stratification. In the Southern Ocean, changes in the extent and thickness of Antarctic sea ice are also striking, and are also linked to SSS changes. These shifts profoundly impact ocean circulation, the ocean's capacity to absorb atmospheric heat and carbon, and ultimately, Earth’s climate. However, current climate models struggle to accurately represent high-latitude water mass properties.

[20-May-2026]

SMOS and SMAP continue to provide excellent SSS observation products at a 50-100 km resolution with weekly revisit. The continuity of SSS measurements is planned through the ESA Copernicus CIMR mission. CryoRad (a candidate for ESA Earth Explorer 12) is currently competing to pilot sensitive SSS measurements with wide bandwidth receivers over a narrow swath which could contribute measurements in the polar regions. However, there is no agency-backed, explicit path forward for significantly improved products in either revisit or spatial resolution. Observations at higher spatial resolution would be of particular interest for coastal applications (e.g. ocean-land hydrologic exchanges, aquaculture) and to study sub-mesoscale ocean energetics (Vinogradova et al. 2019).

[20-May-2026]

Monitoring the dynamic evolution of the coastal ocean at the interfaces with the land, the atmosphere and the cryosphere, is key to understanding the present and future climate of the Earth, the impact of human-induced environmental perturbations and their effect on the marine ecosystems and the society.

[20-May-2026]

CryoRad is a candidate mission for the European Space Agency’s (ESA) Earth Explorer 12 programme that proposes the use of wideband radiometry (0.4–2 GHz) to significantly extend and enhance current L-band (1.4 GHz) observation capabilities. A primary objective of the mission is the retrieval of sea surface salinity (SSS) with unprecedented accuracy, with particular emphasis on polar oceans. Previous L-band missions such as SMOS, Aquarius, and SMAP have established 1.4 GHz as a key frequency for monitoring the global water cycle. However, the sensitivity of brightness temperature (TB) to salinity decreases significantly in cold waters, limiting the performance of L-band observations in high-latitude regions. The main technical advantage of CryoRad arises from the increased sensitivity to salinity at lower frequencies. In polar oceans, the sensitivity of TB to SSS is approximately three times higher at 0.4 GHz than at 1.4 GHz. This enhanced sensitivity is expected to reduce the uncertainty of salinity estimates in cold waters by nearly an order of magnitude, providing critical information for the study of ocean circulation and the impact of polar ice melting on the global climate system.

[20-May-2026] This talk describes the performance of MICAP (Microwave Imager Combined Active and Passive) during its first year in orbit. [20-May-2026]

Highly dynamic sea surface salinity (SSS) in coastal regions are critical to understand the ocean-land water cycle, marine ecosystem health, coastal circulation, as well as human economic impact. Similarly, SSS in high latitude regions are required to truly understand the interactions between the ocean, atmosphere, and cryosphere. Despite their importance, coastal and polar SSS remains one of the most under-sampled geophysical parameters.

[20-May-2026] Fifteen years of satellite SSS products are used in conjunction with microwave SST and Gulf-Stream eddy databases (Census and altimetry) to build up statistical composites of thermo-haline surface anomalies for anti-cyclonic and cyclonic on each side of the Gulf stream main path. [20-May-2026] Anthropogenic climate change is projected to intensify the global hydrological cycle, posing increasing risks to human societies. Monitoring these changes remains challenging, particularly over the oceans. Since long-term shifts in the hydrological cycle are expected to alter ocean salinity—making it a useful indicator of hydrological cycle changes—understanding the processes governing salinity distribution is essential. [20-May-2026] Atmospheric Rivers (ARs) are narrow moisture corridors that occupy less than 10% of the surface of the globe but are responsible for more than 90% of poleward moisture transport, and thus influences hydroclimate across the globe. The formation of ARs usually occurs within the warm sector in front of the leading cold front of an extratropical cyclone. [20-May-2026]

The key role of diapycnal mixing in maintaining the meridional overturning circulation (MOC) has long been clear (Munk, 1966). Scaling analysis and numerical models show that if mixing is represented by a constant eddy diffusivity K, then the amplitude of the MOC is proportional to K^2/3 (Zhang, Schmitt, and Huang, 1999).

[20-May-2026]

Recent work has shown that the drivers of the upper ocean temperature variability depend on time and spatial scales, with surface fluxes being more important for larger spatial scales (>O(100km)) and short (<14 days) timescales, while oceanic processes dominate at smaller spatial and longer time scales.

[20-May-2026]

Marine heatwaves (MHWs) have intensified in both frequency and magnitude worldwide, with especially pronounced impacts in western boundary current regions such as the Gulf Stream (GS). In these highly dynamic environments, variability in ocean circulation strongly shapes upper-ocean stratification and regulates the storage and redistribution of heat.

[20-May-2026]

Upper-ocean stratification depends jointly on temperature and salinity, yet sea surface salinity (SSS) remains comparatively weakly constrained in many coupled data assimilation (DA) systems.

[20-May-2026] Classic El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) theories do not account for the influence of ocean salinity variations. With ocean reanalysis products, we have identified a robust boreal spring western Pacific salinity pattern that can boost El Niño amplitude. Climate models that capture this salinity-El Niño connection tend to simulate a stronger ENSO. [20-May-2026] The fresh pool in the western tropical Pacific Ocean, characterized by low salinity, extends eastward during El Nino. This eastward extension is important to El Nino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) cycle because it amplifies ocean-surface warming that triggers atmospheric convection, thereby providing feedback to the trade winds that drive the ocean currents. Sea surface salinity data from in-situ sensors and satellites have well characterized the eastward extension of the fresh pool. [19-May-2026] Overview of NASA Physical Oceanography Programs are discussed along with research opportunities and organizational updates. [19-May-2026] Overview of ESA salinity science/technology including programmatic lines and scientific SSS achievements. [19-May-2026] The collection of “NASA Salinity” StoryMaps continues to grow with 10 being added over the past year or so. These popular features are based on research publications, topics of interest to salinity scientists (e.g., RFI, sea ice contamination), and new programs such as FRESH Arctic. [19-May-2026] This talk focuses on four main themes (1) How salinity’s role changes with scale, i.e., from tracing the water cycle to shaping frontal density gradients; (2) salinity-driven frontal dynamics near O(10 km) and our ability to resolve it by current satellite salinity; (3) submesoscale thermohaline front types and their implications for vertical exchange, productivity, carbon cycling, and Earth system model fidelity; (4) the missing dimension O(10–20 km) SSS may add to SWOT, SST, and PACE observations of ocean fronts. [19-May-2026] Overview of the upcoming Beau PAIR Expedition June to September 2027 and research priorities. [19-May-2026] The Fate of River Export and Surface Hydrology (FRESH) Arctic team will address the following overarching question: How does freshwater move through the land-delta-ocean system and ultimately control the pathways that dictate the fate of freshwater in the Beaufort Sea? [19-May-2026] The Chukchi Sea is an Arctic marginal sea with a slightly saltier mixed layer than the surrounding open Arctic waters by a few practical salinity units. This higher salinity results from the influx of warm, salty Pacific water through the Bering Strait, suggesting that changes in properties of this inflow could affect the thermohaline characteristics of the Chukchi Sea. [19-May-2026]

The Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) plays a central role in the climate system by transporting and redistributing heat to depth, thereby regulating the effective heat capacity of the ocean under global warming. Observations and projections indicate a potential decline of the AMOC in response to climate change, with far-reaching climate consequences. The Nordic Seas are a key region for the overturning circulation, as dense water formation north of the Greenland–Scotland Ridge feeds the lower limb of the AMOC.

[19-May-2026] Freshwater content (FWC) plays a central role in Arctic stratification, circulation, and sea-ice evolution, yet sustained basin-scale observations remain sparse due to limited in situ sampling. Satellite L-band sea surface salinity (SSS) products now provide multi-year surface coverage across much of the ice-free Arctic, offering new opportunities to infer vertically integrated freshwater variability. [19-May-2026] This talk provides an overview of FORTE, a recently selected NASA Earth Venture Suborbital (EVS-4) Mission that will apply cutting edge ocean observing technologies and state of-the-art models to explore the remote and rapidly transforming ecosystem of the coastal Alaskan Arctic. [19-May-2026] This talk provides an overview and update of the NASA SASSIE project [19-May-2026] We present preliminary results from our analysis of three years of microSWIFT buoy deployments in the Alaskan Arctic i.e. the Bering, Chukchi, and Beaufort Seas. These small buoys measure ocean surface waves, surface currents, SST, and SSS. [19-May-2026] This talk discusses preliminary results from floats deployed as part of the SASSIE project in the Beaufort Sea. Topics include what float observations can tell us about the role of salinity in the formation and/or melting of sea ice in late summer / early fall and observations of the breakdown of the shallow halocline and the upwelling of heat into the near surface. [19-May-2026] This talk discusses research focusing on how Arctic deltas influence transport and storage of suspended sediments from the river to the ocean. Specifically implications for coastal turbidity, light attenuation, marine primary productivity, particulate nutrient transport, and small Arctic ocean basin where coasts are responsible for ~30% of primary production. [19-May-2026] This talk explores the movement of water and sediment through lake-rich Arctic and boreal deltas with a specific focus on how lake connectivity to the channel network controls which lakes store and attenuate riverine floodwater and sediment, how much is stored in these delta lakes, and how long the flood water stays in the delta. [19-May-2026]

Rapid warming has led to large inputs of surface runoff, precipitation, and glacial melt to the Arctic seas. These freshwater influxes affect ocean composition and circulation, which have widespread and varied impacts across the Arctic depending on the freshwater source. It is therefore important to delineate these different freshwater sources from one another, yet this delineation can be challenging using only physical oceanographic measurements (e.g., temperature, salinity).

[19-May-2026] Overview of several previous, ongoing, and upcoming projects collecting observations of coastal plumes along the north slope of Alaska using drifting and moored assets. [19-May-2026] The Mackenzie River is the largest North American source of freshwater into the Arctic Ocean and discharges warm water in the spring that initiates coastal sea ice melt. However, the influence of its freshwater discharge on fall sea ice advance has not been investigated. In the Arctic, ocean salinity is a primary control on upper ocean stratification and therefore modulates vertical heat exchange and sea ice formation. [19-May-2026] Review of the new llc4320v2 Global-Ocean-Ice-River-Tides Simulation with a specific focus on how this new version resolves key issues found within the initial version. [19-May-2026] This poster describes the the high-resolution pan-Arctic coupled sea ice-ocean model developed from the ECCO project in support of the NASA SASSIE campaign. [19-May-2026] Under anthropogenic climate change, the Arctic Ocean is experiencing significant declines in sea ice extent and shifts in seasonality, impacting ocean dynamics, Arctic ecosystems and communities, and global climate. [19-May-2026] River widths and water surface elevation (WSE) measured by satellites (e.g., Landsat and SWOT) provide essential information for river discharge estimation. We developed a physics-based modeling-data assimilation framework to assimilate satellite–derived discharge into hydrological model simulations, which significantly improved the accuracy of the discharge estimates. [19-May-2026]

Accurate retrieval of SSS from L-band radiometer observations requires careful correction for the effects of wind stress and swell on the roughness of the ocean surface. This has been particularly challenging at high wind speeds due to limited sampling in sensor measurements used to determine surface roughness model functions (Yueh et al. 2013, 2016, Meissner et al. 2014).

[19-May-2026] Argo measurements illustrate pronounced decadal variation of salinity in the southeast Indian Ocean (SEIO) that is coherent in the upper 70 m, with freshening during 2004–2010 followed by salinification during 2011–2019. [19-May-2026] The Salinity Validation Data System (SVDS) was developed with the goal of providing a systematic estimation and assessment of satellite sea surface salinity over the global ocean. Using an in situ centered dataset matchup (±3.5 days, 50km), we evaluate, global, latitudinal, and regional biases, and assess satellite salinity data product errors. [19-May-2026] Sea surface salinity (SSS) is a key variable for understanding ocean circulation, freshwater fluxes, and climate variability. Despite its importance, reliable monitoring remains challenging, particularly in coastal and low salinity regions where variability is strong. [19-May-2026] The Pilot-Mission Exploitation Platform (Pi-MEP) for salinity (https://www.salinity-pimep.org/) is an initiative originally meant to support and widen the uptake of ESA Soil Moisture and Ocean Salinity (SMOS) mission data over the ocean. Since its beginning in 2017, the project aims at setting up a computational web-based platform focusing on satellite sea surface salinity data validation, supporting also process studies over the ocean. [19-May-2026]

The Ocean Salinity Center of Expertise for CATDS (CATDS CEC-OS) works at improving methodologies for SMOS mapped sea surface salinities, that are next implemented in the near real time CATDS processing chain (CATDS-CPDC). In this poster, we present recent updates in the global and Arctic CATDS fields.

[19-May-2026] Sea Surface Salinity (SSS) is an Essential Climate Variable (ECV) that plays a key role in the global thermohaline circulation, the hydrological cycle as well as the upper-ocean carbonate system and air-sea exchanges. Owing to its global coverage, satellite-based remote sensing of SSS is a key tool for monitoring this ECV. [19-May-2026] Monitoring freshwater fluxes in polar regions is essential for understanding how global warming affects sea-ice melt and influences global ocean circulation. These rapid environmental changes demand continuous monitoring; however, the extreme conditions in polar regions make sustained in situ observations particularly challenging. [19-May-2026] The Gulf of Anadyr (GA), which occupies the northwest portion of the broad eastern Bering Sea shelf exhibits complex salinity variability, due to the combined influences of river runoff, transport of salty basin water in the Anadyr Current and the mixed salinification and freshening effects of sea ice formation and melt from active seasonal polynyas. [19-May-2026] This poster examines seasonal and longer period variability in sea surface salinity along the coastal transition zone of the Northeastern Pacific region. [19-May-2026] We have developed an optical sensor for measuring millimeterscale thermohaline density variations in the ocean. The instrument is based on a fiber Fabry-Perot "white light" interferometer which can resolve the refractive index of water to better than 2 x 10-8 within a sample volume smaller than 1 mm^3 at a sample rate of 500 Hz. [01-Jan-2026] [04-Dec-2025] [08-Nov-2024] [12-Sep-2024] [28-Dec-2023] [10-Nov-2023] [03-Apr-2023] [14-Feb-2023] [12-Jan-2023] [09-Jan-2023] [01-Feb-2022] [16-Dec-2021] [02-Nov-2021] We used a high resolution (~ 2 km) ocean model to determine subfootprint variability (SFV), the standard deviation within a satellite footprint. The model run was one year long and covered the global (non Arctic) ocean. SFV time series were computed on a 2° X 2° evaluation grid over the one year run. [22-Oct-2021] Sea surface salinity satellites have a large footprint (40 100km) due to the way in which they make their measurements. The satellite makes an average over this footprint, but ignores potentially significant variations within it, so called subfootprint variability (SFV). We wish to determine the size of SFV, to help understand the uncertainty in the satellite measurements. [30-Jul-2021] [24-Feb-2021] This paper presents one example showing how both SMAP observations and model show freshening associated with the Yukon River discharge delta. This is a significant finding in that it would allow the application of remote sensing to monitor changes in river discharge associated with possible changes in climate and changes in precipitation and ice melt. [17-Feb-2021] Large rivers, key components of the land-ocean branch of the global water and biogeochemical cycles, can have important impacts on coastal oceans. Sea surface salinity (SSS) is a critical observable for monitoring river plumes and studying their impacts. Satellite and in-situ SSS gridded products have been used to characterize the variability of some river plumes. However, their consistency has not been examined systematically for near major river mouths of the world ocean. [26-Jan-2021] Due to strong winds and intense heat, momentum and freshwater fluxes, Tropical Cyclones (TCs) can have a profound impact on the thermal and salinity structure of the upper ocean. In particular, the present study tries to answer the following questions: 1. What is the typical impact of TC rainfall, evaporation and winds on sea surface salinity (SSS) in terms of climate characteristics at global scale? 2. How do TC intensity, translation speed and preexisting ocean conditions affect the ocean response? [23-Jan-2021] We use a combination of satellite wind, sea level anomaly, SST, and sea surface salinity anomaly data along with a high-resolution circulation model to examine wind impacts on SSSA. The primary objective is to determine if changes in regional winter wind patterns can explain most of the recently observed GoMSSS change. [18-Jan-2021] Observations of sea surface salinity (SSS) from NASA's Soil Moisture Active-Passive (SMAP) and ESA's Soil Moisture and Ocean Salinity (SMOS) satellite missions are used independently, using two different analysis methods, to characterize and quantify the contribution of mesoscale eddies to the ocean transport of salt. [16-Jan-2021] For strong storms, both sea surface salinity (SSS) and sea surface temperature (SST) wakes develop to the right of storm's track. The present global satellite-based analysis also emphasizes the influences of salt-stratified barrier layers. [31-Dec-2020] Seasonal comparisons of sea surface salinity (SSS) data sets in previous studies were limited by not including mooring data. Incorporating these data sets allows a more detailed comparison of amplitude and phase than in any previous studies. [20-Nov-2020] Barrier layers (BLs) play an important role in regulating the transfer of heat, momentum, and freshwater across the ocean's surface and into the ocean interior. BLs are shallow layers near the ocean surface where vertical density change is controlled by salinity. [08-Nov-2020] Newly available satellite observations of sea surface salinity (SSS) from Aquarius and SMAP satellites are used to characterize SSS variability in the South China Sea. [18-Sep-2020] Seasonal cycle is the dominant signal of sea surface salinity (SSS) variability. Previous analyses of seasonal SSS were based on the World Ocean Atlas (WOA) 1998 constructed from inhomogeneous sampling. This study revisits the seasonal harmonic patterns using four 0.25° satellite (SMAP and SMOS) and two 1° in situ (Argo and EN4) products and compare with the latest 0.25° WOA 2018. [30-Jun-2020] Satellite L-band remote sensing in the past 10 years has proven the capability of resolving SSS spatiotemporal variability in the tropical and subtropical oceans. However, fidelity of SSS retrievals in cold waters at mid-high latitudes is yet to be established. [12-Jun-2020] Working groups (WGs) were formed to address several priority areas identified at the April 2020 virtual salinity workshop. The WGs are intended to enhance collaborations among salinity investigators who are involved or interested in the WG topics in order to have more coherent effort for satellite SSS assessment (e.g., identifying strengths and weaknesses), for providing feedbacks to satellite SSS retrieval teams, and for supporting NASA salinity science through scientific results derived from the related analyses.[06-Jun-2020] Saildrone is an unmanned surface vehicle that has the capability for measuring multiple atmospheric and oceanographic parameters. Because it has one minute continuous sampling, it provides a unique opportunity for the validation of SST and SSS gradients. For this study, direct comparisons were done with six satellite-derived SST products and two satellite-derived SSS products from SMAP. [09-May-2020] The ocean plays a dominant role in the global water cycle. It is the center of action for global evaporation and precipitation, and supplies the moisture that falls as continental precipitation. It also acts to some extent as Nature's rain gauge as sea surface salinity integrates the complex multifactorial variations in the water cycle. [08-May-2020] The advent of the SMAP mission has allowed for the observation of sea surface salinity (SSS) at an unprecedented scale. Despite this, SSS has largely been neglected in monsoon studies, and thus this study focused on how SMAP salinity can be useful for monitoring weather/synoptic related 3-7-day oscillations and monsoon variability. [09-Mar-2020] Hudson Bay (HB) is the largest semi-inland sea in the Northern Hemisphere, located at the southern margin of the Arctic Ocean. The bay is completely covered by ice and snow in winter, and open water in summer. For about six months each year, satellite remote sensing of sea surface salinity is retrieved over open water. [17-Dec-2019] Sea surface salinity (SSS) is a critical parameter in the Arctic Ocean, having potential implications for climate and weather. A systematic evaluation of satellite SSS products in the Arctic Ocean across different missions has not been done, hindering the ongoing cal/val and potential applications. [18-Nov-2019] Subfootprint Variability (SFV) is a significant source of mismatch between satellite and in situ, but has not been quantified on a global basis. These heavily-sampled regions tell us that SFV can be found using high-resolution models and mooring data, which are much more common than intensive field campaigns such as SPURS. [27-Aug-2019] The concentration of dissolved salt in our ocean is known as salinity. Since 2011, data from NASA satellites have unveiled changing salinity patterns. But to get a simple measurement like salinity, you need to untangle a lot of complicated signals.[21-Aug-2019] Validation of remote sensing data sets in coastal waters. Overall this is a difficult problem, as global arrays such as ARGO do not provide data in coastal regions. Yet, these areas are critical as coastal upwelling is essential for maintaining the world's fisheries. [05-Aug-2019] Results of this research provide insights into variations in sea surface salinity in the subtropical gyre and contribute to the broader understanding of global ocean dynamics. [05-Jul-2019] Here we present an observation-based study of the coupled land-ocean regions of influence for the transformation of precipitation over land into coastal river plume structure in the Gulf of Mexico. [14-Jun-2019] Previous studies of salinity processes have contained gaps that have constrained the ability to answer significant questions such as "How does the ocean integrate rainfall and evaporation that can alter ocean salinity at the surface?" The SPURS-2 (Salinity Processes in the Upper ocean Regional Studies - 2) field campaign collected new data and may help answer such important questions about salinity processes, especially in the tropics. [14-Jun-2019] The Salinity Processes Upper-ocean Regional Study 2 (SPURS-2) field campaign was designed to examine processes affecting the near-surface salinity structure and variability beneath the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ). Within the tropical Pacific, seasonally-varying rainfall driven by the ITCZ coincides with the formation of a vast low salinity band crossing the entire Pacific Ocean. To better understand this, a high-resolution numerical model was formulated focusing on smallscale processes impacting sea surface salinity (SSS) in the region. [08-May-2019] The Maritime Continent (MC) is a low-latitude chokepoint of the world oceans with the Indonesian throughflow (ITF) linking the Indo-Pacific oceans, influencing global ocean circulation, climate, and biogeochemistry. While previous studies suggested that South-China-Sea freshwaters north of the MC intruding the Indonesian Seas weaken the ITF during boreal winter, the impact of the MC water cycle on the ITF has not been investigated. [01-Oct-2018] River discharge, and its resulting region of freshwater influence (ROFI) in the coastal ocean, has a critical influence on physical and biogeochemical processes in seasonally stratified shelf ecosystems. Multi-year (2010-2016) observations of satellite-derived sea surface salinity (SSS) and in situ water column hydrographic data during summer 2016 were used to investigate physical aspects of the ROFI east of the Mississippi River Delta to better assess regional susceptibility to hypoxia in the summer months. [11-Sep-2018] SMAP ocean surface salinity data track advection of unusually warm salty surface water into the Gulf of Maine in winter 2017-2018. SMAP results confirmed by buoy measurements inside the Gulf as well as glider data on shelf. [04-Jun-2018] This study demonstrates that SMAP SSS provides useful information in monitoring large freshwater signals in the Arctic Ocean. Challenges remain in further improvement of SSS retrieval sensitivity in cold water region and having adequate in situ data for calibration and validation. [17-Dec-2017] The subtropical high pressure of the descending branch of the Hadley circulation is located between 20° and 40° of both north and south latitudes. Within the zone, a pool of sea surface salinity maximum (SSS-max) exists in responding to the excess of evaporation over precipitation. [17-Nov-2017] The Bay of Bengal receives large amounts of freshwater from the Ganga-Brahmaputra river during the summer monsoon. The resulting upper-ocean freshening influences seasonal rainfall, cyclones, and biological productivity. [25-Oct-2017] This study investigates sea surface salinity and sea surface temperature variations in the tropical Atlantic east of the Lesser Antilles, a region where freshwater advection from the Amazon and Orinoco Rivers, may potentially impact air-sea interaction. [15-May-2017] The ocean-surface freshwater budget estimated from the present satellite and atmospheric reanalyses is known to have a large uncertainty. This study explores the potential of using ocean salinity observations (Aquarius, Argo, and WOA) to assess the variability and uncertainty in 12 atmospheric reanalyses and satellite-based evaporation-minus-precipitation (E-P) products. [22-Mar-2017] Scientists have historically sampled the ocean's chemistry by collecting water on exhaustive field campaigns. More recently, autonomous technologies such as gliders and floats have come on-line, providing greater coverage. Now, oceanographers and climatologists have one more tool to add to their quiver: satellites.[30-Dec-2016] This is the product specification document for the Level 2B (L2B) passive Sea Surface Salinity (SSS) and Wind Speed (WSPD) product for the Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) project. [13-Sep-2016] SMAP sea surface salinity (SSS) V2.0 validated release data from Remote Sensing Systems. The near-polar orbit of SMAP allows for complete global coverage of the oceans in 3 days with a repeat cycle of 8 days. The RSS SMAP SSS V2.0 validated release contains 3 products: Level 2, Level 3 8-day running averages, and Level 3 monthly averages. All files are in netCDF4 format and are CF compliant. [10-Sep-2016] Floods can have damaging impacts on both land and sea, yet studies of flooding events tend to focus on only one side of the land/sea continuum. Here we present the first two-sided analysis, focusing on the May 2015 severe flooding in Texas. [12-May-2016] Aquarius and SMOS detected large interannual changes of SSS in the Mississippi River mouth that state-of-the-ocean high-resolution global ocean assimilation products (e.g., US Navy's HYCOM operational anlysis) failed to capture. Aquarius/SMOS/SMAP salinity data provide valuable resources to constraint ocean analysis and forecast to study the linkage of ocean and regional water cycle. [24-Dec-2015] Aquarius is a combined active/passive microwave (L-band) instrument designed to map the salinity of global oceans from space. The specific goal of Aquarius is to monitor the seasonal and interannual variation of the large scale features of the sea surface salinity (SSS) field of the open ocean (i.e. away from land).[22-Dec-2015] This article presents a method for formally assessing random and systematic uncertainties in the Aquarius salinity retrievals. [15-May-2015] The Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) is a major source of the surface freshwater input to the tropical open ocean. Under the ITCZ rain bands, zonally oriented sea surface salinity (SSS) fronts are observed by the Aquarius/SAC-D mission and Argo floats. This study is to investigate the evolution and forcing mechanism of the tropical SSS fronts. [31-Dec-2013] The SMAP Handbook was produced in 2013 as a compendium of information on the project near its time of launch. The SMAP Science Definition Team and Project personnel wrote this volume together to provide the community with the essential information on programmatic, technological, and scientific aspects of the mission. [18-Feb-2013] This report documents the Aquarius sea surface salinity measurement error statistics and some residual errors in the V2.0 data release. We also document the effect that changes in the science data processing since V1.3 have on the error statistics by comparing V1.3 with V2.0 results. [01-Jul-2012] Aquarius/SAC-D Mission feature article from NASA's The Earth Observer newsletter. [17-Aug-2011] This diagram shows the satellite's roll, pitch and yaw angles during deployment. Click here for more information. [16-Aug-2011] This diagram shows the satellite's roll angle change about 0.5 degree during deployment. Click here for more information. [10-Jun-2011] NASA announces the launch of the Aquarius/SAC-D observatory. [07-Jun-2011] A description of the Delta II launch vehicle for the Aquarius/SAC-D satellite launch. [03-Jun-2011] An introduction to the Aquarius instrument and how salinity is measured. [17-May-2011] Science Writers' Guide released by NASA prior to the launch of Aquarius. [30-Mar-2011] This one-page lithograph summarizes the Aquarius/SAC-D mission and why the concentration of salt in the ocean is a key variable for understanding global ocean circulation. [30-Mar-2011] A summary of the launch vehicle and details of the deployment of the Aquarius/SAC-D satellite. [30-Mar-2011] The official mission brochure for the Aquarius/SAC-D Mission. [28-Mar-2011] CONAE kicks off the launch campaign with information on the Aquarius/SAC-D mission for the press. [01-Jan-2011] Yi Chao, Aquarius Project Scientist, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory describes the new Aquarius mission to Chris Howell in Ocean Bights. [19-Dec-2010] Written three years before the launch of Aquarius in June 2011, this overview by Dr. Raymond Schmitt summarizes the impacts of climate change on the water cycle and ocean salinity. [01-Jul-2010] Aquarius/SAC-D Mission feature article from NASA's The Earth Observer newsletter. [20-May-2010] INSPIRE education specialist Jim Gerard from Kennedy Space Center chats with Yi Chao, Aquarius Project Specialist about the Aquarius satellite mission. [24-Feb-2010] Presentation from Aquarius PI Gary Lagerloef's plenary talk at the 2010 Ocean Sciences Meeting in Portland, Oregon. [22-Feb-2010] In this article, written many years before the launch of Aquarius, the authors report that a new satellite program will provide data to reveal how the ocean responds to the combined effects of evaporation, precipitation, ice melt, and river runoff on seasonal and interannual time scales. [22-Feb-2010] The CLIVAR (Climate Variability and Predictability) Working Group, an international research effort focusing on the variability and predictability of the slowly varying components of the climate system, provides recommendations to improve our understanding, monitoring, modeling and predicting of climate. [19-Feb-2010] Researchers Igor Yashayev and Allyn Clarke discuss the evolution and interplay of water masses in the subpolar North Atlantic, an important region in terms of deep-ocean circulation [19-Feb-2010] In this 1996 overview article, Dr. Raymond Schmitt (Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution) summarizes fresh water's effect on ocean phenomena. [01-Jul-2008] Aquarius/SAC-D Mission feature article from NASA's The Earth Observer newsletter. [01-Jan-2008] After a four-year development effort, the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center has delivered the Aquarius Radiometer to the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena, California for integration with the Aquarius instrument. [11-Jan-2006] The mission overview fold-out covering NASA's priorities through the scientific return.