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Historical Challenges of Measuring Salinity From Space

Yi Chao

Principal Scientist
Remote Sensing Solutions

Dr. Chao received his Ph.D. from Princeton University in Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences. His research interests include satellite oceanography with a particular focus on coastal oceans; ocean modeling, data assimilation and forecasting; interdisciplinary science of coupling ocean circulation with ecosystem and air-sea interactions; and climate variability and change.

Webinar Clip
Dr. Chao explains how satellite technology has evolved throughout the years to deal with the challenge of measuring ocean salinity from space. He points out that early experiments conducted by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory yielded little in the way of usable data, but this process allowed engineers and researchers to make adjustments and try their experiment again.

Full webinar: How Was the Technology for Aquarius Developed?

Click here for a transcript of this clip (PDF, 49.4 KB).

Resources
Applicable Science Standards
  • Developing and Using Models Developing and Using Models. A practice of both science and engineering is to use and construct models as helpful tools for representing ideas and explanations. These tools include diagrams, drawings, physical replicas, mathematical representations, analogies, and computer simulations.
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