CEOS EO HANDBOOK – MEASUREMENT INSTRUMENTS
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
InstrumentStatus/
Accuracy
Instrument DescriptionMeasurement TechnologyTimeline
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/K/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
* Description adapted from WMO.