Sea Surface Salinity
Measurement Instruments
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) | 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 | 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 | |