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Documents

Remote Sensing of Salinity and Overview of Results from Aquarius
[24-Dec-15] Aquarius is a combined active/passive microwave (L-band) instrument designed to map the salinity of global oceans from space. The specific goal of Aquarius is to monitor the seasonal and interannual variation of the large scale features of the sea surface salinity (SSS) field of the open ocean (i.e. away from land).

Assessment of Uncertainties in Aquarius Salinity Retrievals
[22-Dec-15] This memo presents a method for formally assessing random and systematic uncertainties in the Aquarius salinity retrievals.

Aquarius Salinity Validation Analysis
[18-Feb-13] This report documents the Aquarius sea surface salinity measurement error statistics and some residual errors in the V2.0 data release. We also document the effect that changes in the science data processing since V1.3 have on the error statistics by comparing V1.3 with V2.0 results.

Aquarius: One Year After Launch
[01-July-12] Aquarius/SAC-D Mission feature article from NASA's The Earth Observer newsletter.

Roll, Pitch, and Yaw Angles During Deployment (Diagram)
[17-Aug-11] This diagram shows the satellite's roll, pitch and yaw angles during deployment. Click here for more information.

Roll Angle Change During Deployment (Diagram)
[16-Aug-11] This diagram shows the satellite's roll angle change about 0.5 degree during deployment. Click here for more information.

NASA'S "Age of Aquarius" Dawns With Launch from California
[10-Jun-11] NASA announces the launch of the Aquarius/SAC-D observatory.

Delta II Aquarius/SAC-D: Mission Overview
[07-Jun-11] A description of the Delta II launch vehicle for the Aquarius/SAC-D satellite launch.

Aquarius Instrument and Salinity Retrieval
[03-Jun-11] An introduction to the Aquarius instrument and how salinity is measured.

Aquarius/SAC-D Science Writers' Guide
[17-May-11] Science Writers' Guide released by NASA prior to the launch of Aquarius.

Aquarius/SAC-D Mission: Sea Surface Salinity from Space
[30-Mar-11] This one-page lithograph summarizes the Aquarius/SAC-D mission and why the concentration of salt in the ocean is a key variable for understanding global ocean circulation.

Aquarius Launch Details
[30-Mar-11] A summary of the launch vehicle and details of the deployment of the Aquarius/SAC-D satellite.

Aquarius/SAC-D: Sea Surface Salinity from Space
[30-Mar-11] The official mission brochure for the Aquarius/SAC-D Mission.

CONAE Press Release
[28-Mar-11] CONAE kicks off the launch campaign with information on the Aquarius/SAC-D mission for the press.

Ocean Bights Interview with Yi Chao
[01-Jan-11] Yi Chao, Aquarius Project Scientist, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory describes the new Aquarius mission to Chris Howell in Ocean Bights.

Salinity and the Global Water Cycle
[19-Dec-10] Written three years before the launch of Aquarius in June 2011, this overview by Dr. Raymond Schmitt summarizes the impacts of climate change on the water cycle and ocean salinity.

Aquarius: A Brief (Recent) History of an International Effort
[01-July-10] Aquarius/SAC-D Mission feature article from NASA's The Earth Observer newsletter.

INSPIRE Chat With Yi Chao
[20-May-10] INSPIRE education specialist Jim Gerard from Kennedy Space Center chats with Yi Chao, Aquarius Project Specialist about the Aquarius satellite mission.

Aquarius/SAC-D Mission: Surface Salinity from Space - Understanding the Interaction Between Ocean Circulation, the Water Cycle and Climate by Measuring Ocean Salinity
[24-Feb-10] Presentation from Aquarius PI Gary Lagerloef's plenary talk at the 2010 Ocean Sciences Meeting in Portland, Oregon.

The Aquarius/SAC-D Mission: Designed to Meet the Salinity Remote-Sensing Challenge
[22-Feb-10] In this article, written many years before the launch of Aquarius, the authors report that a new satellite program will provide data to reveal how the ocean responds to the combined effects of evaporation, precipitation, ice melt, and river runoff on seasonal and interannual time scales.

What's Next for Salinity?
[22-Feb-10] The CLIVAR (Climate Variability and Predictability) Working Group, an international research effort focusing on the variability and predictability of the slowly varying components of the climate system, provides recommendations to improve our understanding, monitoring, modeling and predicting of climate.

Evolution of North Atlantic Water Masses Inferred from Labrador Sea Salinity Series
[19-Feb-10] Researchers Igor Yashayev and Allyn Clarke discuss the evolution and interplay of water masses in the subpolar North Atlantic, an important region in terms of deep-ocean circulation

If Rain Falls on the Ocean - Does It Make a Sound?
[19-Feb-10] In this 1996 overview article, Dr. Raymond Schmitt (Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution) summarizes fresh water's effect on ocean phenomena.

Update on the Aquarius/SAC-D Mission
[01-July-08] Aquarius/SAC-D Mission feature article from NASA's The Earth Observer newsletter.

Aquarius Radiometer Delivered to JPL
[01-Jan-08] After a four-year development effort, the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center has delivered the Aquarius Radiometer to the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena, California for integration with the Aquarius instrument.

Mission Overview Fold-Out
[11-Jan-06] The mission overview fold-out covering NASA's priorities through the scientific return.

Movie Transcripts
KCTS Interview with Gary Lagerloef, Part 1
[26-Jun-13] During a break from a public television fundraising campaign and NOVA "Earth From Space" program, Aquarius PI Gary Lagerloef introduces the Aquarius/SAC-D Mission and NASA remote sensing efforts. Dr. Lagerloef also discusses the thirty-five year history of satellite observations and the important information that these types of measurements provide to the scientific community.

KCTS Interview with Gary Lagerloef, Part 2
[26-Jun-13] Dr. Gary Lagerloef provides an overview of the Aquarius mission, including the development of its salinity sensor leading up to its picture-perfect launch in June of 2011, and the deployment of the satellite's antenna allowing data to be collected. Dr. Lagerloef also explains how he first became interested in being a scientist, and why Aquarius' orbit can make it very difficult to see from the ground.

KCTS Interview with Gary Lagerloef, Part 3
[26-Jun-13] The focus of this portion of the interview with Dr. Gary Lagerloef is on the collection of satellites currently observing Earth systems, and how Aquarius will allow us to better understand the water cycle and climate. Dr. Lagerloef shares both Aquarius' mission goals and highlights from the "first light" data image.

KCTS Interview with Gary Lagerloef, Part 4
[26-Jun-13] Dr. Gary Lagerloef discusses other ocean measurements taken from space, including sea surface height measurements taken by JASON 1 & 2 and TOPEX/Poseidon missions that illustrate 20 years of sustained sea level rise. Dr. Lagerloef discusses the importance of international collaborations, including the mutually-beneficial partnership between the Argentinian space agency CONAE and NASA that made the Aquarius mission possible.

KCTS Interview with Gary Lagerloef, Part 5
[26-Jun-13] Dr. Gary Lagerloef discusses the need for new NASA missions in the next 10 years and highlights some up and coming projects, such as: the Orbiting Carbon Observatory (OCO) mission, aiming to collect data on carbon dioxide; a Soil Moisture mission (SMAP) which will measure the amount of freshwater in soils and on land; and a follow-up to the gravity-sensing GRACE mission. Dr. Lagerloef also gives advice for students interested in pursuing careers in satellite remote sensing.

Aquarius Sea Surface Salinity Tour 2012 (Spanish Language)
[20-Feb-13] The Aquarius spacecraft is designed to measure global sea surface salinity. It is important to understand salinity, the amount of dissolved salts in water, because it will lead us to better understanding of the water cycle and can lead to improved climate models.

Aquarius Sea Surface Salinity Tour 2012 (English Language)
[20-Feb-13] The Aquarius spacecraft is designed to measure global sea surface salinity. It is important to understand salinity, the amount of dissolved salts in water, because it will lead us to better understanding of the water cycle and can lead to improved climate models.

Oceans and Climate Change
[22-Mar-12] Adam Smith talks with Eric Lindstrom, Liesl Hotaling, Andy Pritchard, Scott McLean, and Zdenka Willis in this podcast from Pod Academy.

Aquarius Prepares for Launch: Episode 5
[10-Jun-11] In the weeks leading up to the launch of Aquarius, Amit Sen (Aquarius Project Manager at JPL) shot five videos about the final preparations underway at Vandenberg Air Force Base. In this episode, Amit discusses ignition and lift-off of the Delta II rocket carrying Aquarius and the SAC-D observatory.

Aquarius Prepares for Launch: Episode 4
[08-Jun-11] In the weeks leading up to the launch of Aquarius, Amit Sen (Aquarius Project Manager at JPL) shot five videos about the final preparations underway at Vandenberg Air Force Base. In this episode, Amit describes last-minute preparations, including fairing installation, battery charging, and rocket fueling.

Aquarius Prepares for Launch: Episode 3
[30-May-11] In the weeks leading up to the launch of Aquarius, Amit Sen (Aquarius Project Manager at JPL) shot five videos about the final preparations underway at Vandenberg Air Force Base. In this episode (12 days to lift-off), Amit describes the activities taking place at Space Launch Complex-2, where Aquarius will be launched.

Aquarius Prepares for Launch: Episode 2
[21-May-11] In the weeks leading up to the launch of Aquarius, Amit Sen (Aquarius Project Manager at JPL) shot five videos about the final preparations underway at Vandenberg Air Force Base. In this episode (20 days to lift-off), Amit describes the integration of the solar panels.

Aquarius: Studying the Salt of the Sea
[17-May-11] In this movie transcript, Aquarius PI Gary Lagerloef, Project Manager Amit Sen, and Project Scientist Yi Chao talk about the role the Aquarius satellite mission will play in the study of global ocean salinity.

Ocean Circulation
[10-May-11] Ocean circulation plays a key role in distributing solar energy and maintaining climate, by moving heat from Earth's equator to the poles. Aquarius salinity data, combined with data from other sensors that measure sea level, rainfall, temperature, ocean color, and winds, will give us a much clearer picture of how the ocean works.

Water Cycle
[10-May-11] Measurements of sea surface salinity, or the concentration of salt at the ocean's surface, gives scientists vital information on global ocean circulation and how freshwater moves between the ocean and other reservoirs.

Climate
[10-May-11] With its accurate and consistent salinity measurements, Aquarius will help climate modelers to better understand the ocean-atmosphere processes that are changing Earth's climate.

Aquarius Prepares for Launch: Episode 1
[07-May-11] In the weeks leading up to the launch of Aquarius, Amit Sen (Aquarius Project Manager at JPL) shot five videos about the final preparations underway at Vandenberg Air Force Base. In this episode (34 days to lift-off) takes us through the birth and construction of the Aquarius instrument.