Why is it Important to Understand Ocean Salinity?

Sea surface salinity (SSS) plays a key role in ocean circulation and the regulation of Earth's climate. Deciphering the dominant processes that affect SSS - evaporation and precipitation - will improve our ability to monitor, understand, and model those factors that ultimately govern ocean motion and climate variation.

Featured Video: Why SPURS?

Dr. Raymond Schmitt gives a brief summary of why the SPURS cruise is happening (view transcript).

Resources

  • An Oceanographer and the Water Cycle
    [NASA Earth Observatory]
    If one wants to find out what the water cycle is doing, one should be looking at the oceans
  • Classroom Activities
    [NASA Aquarius]
    "Hands on" laboratory activities for Grades K-12
  • The Water Cycle - Now You See It, Now You Don't
    [NASA Salinity]
    This activity focuses on two aspects of the water cycle: evaporation and condensation
  • Sea Surface Salinity and Ocean Circulation
    [CLIMB]
    The effects of sea surface salinity on ocean circulation are illustrated in this interactive concept map from COSEE-Ocean Systems
  • The Role of Salt
    [NASA Salinity]
    How much salt is there? Where does it come from? Is salinity uniform throughout the ocean? Answers to these questions and more
  • Student Outcomes
    [NASA Aquarius]
    Twenty three student outcomes addressed by Aquarius EPO materials and aligned with National Science Education Standards
  • The Power of Sea Salt
    [YouTube]
    A ScienceCast movie from Science at NASA
  • Ocean Circulation and Climate
    [NASA Salinity]
    Ocean salinity's influence on the environment can be summarized by looking at Earth's three major latitude zones: high latitudes, mid-latitudes, and the tropics
R/V Knorr