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Salinity is an indicator of ocean processes — a tracer of ocean water motion. The radiometric penetration depth of the microwave sensor on Aquarius used to measure salinity is a few centimeters, meaning these radiometers are measuring salinity at the very top of the ocean surface. As rain falls on the ocean it makes the ocean fresher and that fresher water is less dense. You get a lens of fresh water overlaying the salty water below. This fresh water on the sea surface could "spoof" the shallow satellite readings. |
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The Aquarius satellite, circling pole-to-pole about 400 miles above Earth, measures salinity by detecting microwaves emitted by blackbody radiation from the ocean's surface. It can measure salinity within the top 2 cm of the surface. Scientists are leading efforts to understand how the measurements made by Aquarius near the ocean surface relate to salinity deeper in the ocean. |
