Monthly climatology maps of sea surface density at 1-degree spatial resolution, derived from Ascending satellite passes. The data is produced by NASA and CONAE using the Aquarius/SAC-D satellite's radiometers and scatterometer. This version 5.0 product was last updated in June 2015.
Use Cases
- Analyzing spatial patterns of monthly sea surface density climatology from gridded 1-degree maps.
- Studying ocean circulation by using density fields derived from Aquarius salinity and collocated ancillary sea surface temperature.
- Validating ocean models by comparing simulated sea surface density against this satellite-based climatology product.
- Investigating the relationship between surface density and other oceanographic variables using the TEOS-10 derived estimates.
Strengths
- Data is gridded at a consistent 1-degree spatial resolution for global analysis.
- Product incorporates measurements from three radiometers and a scatterometer for surface roughness correction.
- Derived using the TEOS-10 thermodynamic equation of seawater for standardized estimates.
Limitations
- Data is limited to Ascending satellite passes, missing the full diurnal cycle.
- Temporal coverage is a climatology, not a time series of individual events.
- Last update was in 2015, so the product is not current with recent observations.
Provenance
- Source
- NASA and Comision Nacional de Actividades Espaciales (CONAE) via the Aquarius/SAC-D satellite.
- Collection Method
- Satellite remote sensing using radiometers at 1.413 GHz and a scatterometer at 1.26 GHz, with salinity retrieved and combined with ancillary sea surface temperature data.
- Time Range
- Monthly climatology (long-term average).
- Freshness
- null
- Geography
- Global ocean coverage within the satellite's 370 km cross-track swath.