Annual Sea Surface Spiciness Maps From Aquarius Satellite

Annual, gridded sea surface spiciness data at 1-degree spatial resolution derived from Ascending satellite passes. The dataset is Version 5.0 from the Aquarius/SAC-D satellite, a joint NASA and Argentinian CONAE mission. Data was last updated in June 2015.

Use Cases

• Analyzing annual spiciness patterns from 1-degree gridded data to study water mass formation and variability.
• Validating ocean circulation models using satellite-derived spiciness as a surface boundary condition.
• Investigating the relationship between sea surface spiciness and other oceanographic parameters like temperature and salinity.
• Assessing interannual variability in ocean surface properties using the Ascending-pass-only data product.

Strengths

• 1-degree spatial resolution provides global coverage of sea surface spiciness.
• Data incorporates measurements from three radiometers and a scatterometer for surface roughness correction.

Limitations

• Dataset is from 2015 and may not reflect current ocean conditions.
• Product uses only Ascending satellite passes, which may introduce sampling bias.
• Specific row count, file size, and data completeness metrics are unknown.

Provenance

Source

Aquarius/SAC-D satellite, a NASA and CONAE (Argentinian Space Agency) collaboration.

Collection Method

Satellite remote sensing using three L-band radiometers and a scatterometer measuring brightness temperature and ocean backscatter.

Time Range

Annual coverage (specific years not provided).

Freshness

Last updated in 2015; no ongoing update frequency specified.

Geography

Global ocean coverage with a 370 km cross-track swath.