Aquarius Sea Surface Salinity 2011-2014 

Salt plays an important role in how the Earth system functions. The ocean is roughly 3.5% salt and the concentration of dissolved salts in the ocean is referred to as salinity, which varies across the globe and over time. To better understand the regional and global processes that link variations in ocean salinity to changes in the global water cycle—and how these variations influence ocean circulation and climate—NASA built Aquarius, which flew on the international Aquarius/SAC-D observatory. This visualization shows daily sea surface salinity measurements acquired by Aquarius from September 1, 2011 to September 1, 2014. Aquarius data have revealed interesting features in the global ocean, including a salty patch of water in the North Atlantic. Evaporation of water from this area leaves behind large amounts of salt, contributing to a high-salinity region. Near the equator in the North Pacific, one of the wettest regions on the planet, heavy rainfall adds an abundance of water to the sea surface. This results in a band of low salinity water off the coast of Central America. Rivers also influence the amount of salt on the sea surface; for example, at the mouth of the Amazon River, millions of gallons of freshwater flow into the Atlantic Ocean, resulting in a plume of low-salinity water. Without satellite observations, these global changes would be largely invisible to us. Aquarius data are helping scientists to better understand our vast ocean, including how changes in ocean circulation and the water cycle may impact Earth's climate. 


For more information, visit: aquarius.umaine.edu 

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