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Science Meetings

Validate Aquarius Satellite Measured Sea Surface Salinity with In Situ Data from SPURS
Zhang, H., and Chao, Y. (26-Feb-14)

The Aquarius satellite measured sea surface salinity is validated against in situ measurements collected from the SPURS (Salinity Processes in the Upper Ocean Regional Study) field experiment during September 2012 and October 2013. A variety of in situ platforms were deployed during the one-year long field experiment. The wave glider measures salinity at 0.2 m and 6 m, respectively. Surface drifters measure salinity at 0.6 m. While conventional profiling floats measure salinity at a depth range from 5 to 10 m, the newly developed STS (Surface Temperature/Salinity) floats measure salinity all the way to the skin layer close to the surface. Results using these in situ data to validate the Aquarius satellite retrieved sea surface salinity will be presented.