A 0.25-degree spatial and 4-day temporal grid product provides a continuous global sea surface salinity record from August 28, 2011 to the present. The dataset is derived from Aquarius, SMAP, and SMOS satellite missions using Optimal Interpolation and is produced by Earth and Space Research, the International Pacific Research Center, and Remote Sensing Systems. It merges measurements from three missions to ensure a consistent time series.
Use Cases
- Analyzing temporal trends in salinity values across the 4-day grid to study ocean freshening or salinification events.
- Mapping spatial salinity patterns from the 0.25-degree grid to investigate river plume dispersion or ocean frontal systems.
- Validating and calibrating ocean circulation models by comparing model output against the satellite-derived salinity fields.
- Studying the consistency of the data record during mission overlaps, such as the April-June 2015 period between Aquarius and SMAP.
Strengths
- Continuous record from August 2011 to present, over a decade of data.
- High-resolution 0.25-degree spatial and 4-day temporal grid.
- Integrated data from three satellite missions (Aquarius, SMAP, SMOS) for completeness.
- Uses in-situ Argo float and buoy data for bias correction and accuracy validation.
Limitations
- Spatial coverage excludes internal seas like the Mediterranean and Baltic.
- Data is only available for ice-free ocean areas, limiting polar coverage.
- Relies on merging data from different sensor systems, which may introduce subtle inter-mission biases.
Provenance
- Source
- Earth and Space Research (ESR), International Pacific Research Center (IPRC), and Remote Sensing Systems (RSS).
- Collection Method
- Derived from Level 2 swath data of Aquarius, SMAP, and SMOS satellites using Optimal Interpolation with a 7-day decorrelation scale.
- Time Range
- August 28, 2011 to present.
- Freshness
- Updated regularly with a 4-day temporal resolution; record extends to present.
- Geography
- Global ocean, including Arctic and Antarctic ice-free areas.