| CEOS EO HANDBOOK – MEASUREMENT INSTRUMENTS
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Measurements > Ocean >
Ocean Salinity >
Sea Surface salinity
  | Measurement Definition*: Salinity of seawater in the surface layer (upper ~ 1 m if observed in MW). In the open ocean the correct term should be “halinity” with reference of the diversity of salts involved - Measuring Units psu, Uncertainty Units psu
Thematic Links |
| Instrument | Status/
Accuracy | Instrument Description | Measurement Technology | Timeline |
MIRAS (SMOS)
Microwave Imaging Radiometer using Aperture Synthesis (MIRAS) | Operational
| Objective is to meassure sea surface salinity and soil moisture in support of climate, meteorology, hydrology, and oceanography applications. New applications include Soil freeze/thaw, ocean severe winds, sea ice thickness, vegetation optical depth and solar flux. | Multi-purpose imaging MW radiometer |  |
Imaging Microwave Radiometer
Imaging Microwave Radiometer | Being developed
| A conical scanning total power radiometer operating in 5 bands (L/C/X/Ku/Ka) to provide high-spatial resolution microwave imaging radiometry measurements and derived products with continuous global coverage and sub-daily revisit in the polar regions and adjacent seas | Multi-purpose imaging MW radiometer | |
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* Description adapted from WMO.
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