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| Titel |
Salinity Gradients at the Ocean Surface: Consequences for Satellite-Derived Salinity Fields |
| VerfasserIn |
B. Ward, G. Reverdin, J. M. Lilly, R. W. Schmitt |
| Konferenz |
EGU General Assembly 2009
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| Medientyp |
Artikel
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| Sprache |
Englisch
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| Digitales Dokument |
PDF |
| Erschienen |
In: GRA - Volume 11 (2009) |
| Datensatznummer |
250030420
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| Zusammenfassung |
| In order to validate the spaceborne measurement of sea surface salinity, in-situ data from
drifters, moorings, and floats will be used. However, these in-situ measurements are usually
made at several meters below the surface, whereas the SMOS satellite will measure the
salinity in the upper centimeter. Our objective is to investigate the magnitude of the salinity
gradients in the upper 10 m of the ocean, and under which conditions they are most likely to
occur. We are proposing to conduct this research using the Air-Sea Interaction Profiler
(ASIP).
ASIP is an autonomous, upwardly-rising instrument with a suite of high-resolution sensors.
The most important sensor on ASIP is the diamond-coated conductivity/temperature
microsensor, which is currently being developed using semiconductor fabrication techniques.
With this new sensor on ASIP, we will be able to resolve the salinity gradient with a
resolution of 1 mm.
Data from the proposed measurements will be invaluable in order to understand the
relationship between SSS (i.e. the salinity at 1 cm), and a ‘bulk’ salinity measurement. These
data will also highlight the conditions where salinity gradients are expected to exist:
evaporation, precipitation, and during low wind speeds where a salty layer may be stabilized
when there is significant shortwave warming at the ocean surface. These studies
will lead to an overall improvement in the accuracy of the satellite-derived salinity
measurements, thereby increasing our ability to monitor the ocean’s influence on climate. |
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