Measurements of Near-Surface Salinity (0-50 cm) Using Autonomous Drifters
Abstract
Since the skin depth of L-band measurements over the ocean is 1cm, it is critical to measure Sea Surface Salinity as close as possible to the surface for calibation and validation of L-band radiometer measurements. In the frame of the French GLOSCAL project, since December 2009, 25 surface drifters were measuring conductivity at less than 50cm depth in the North Atlantic, in the Bay of Biscay and in the tropical Atlantic, Pacific and Indian oceans. In the tropics, these drifters show large freshening associated with rain events and large diurnal cycle of Sea Surface Temperature in condition of low wind speed. Comparison (between the drifter and ECMWF SST used in SMOS SSS retrieval) indicates an agreement better than 1°C in most cases.
- Publication:
-
ESA Living Planet Symposium
- Pub Date:
- December 2010
- Bibcode:
- 2010ESASP.686E.419B