Advances in Remote Sensing of Ocean Salinity

Dear Colleagues,

Salinity plays an important role in the global ocean as it influences water mass formation, density and circulation, heat storage, air–sea interactions, and the hydrological cycle. Understanding salinity variability is, therefore, paramount in understanding global climate. In the past, salinity measurements have been sparse. The launches of the soil moisture and ocean salinity (SMOS), Aquarius, and soil moisture active passive (SMAP) satellites initiated a new era for investigating the surface salinity of global oceans, which has improved our understanding of salinity variability and dynamics, among others. The scientific value of data collected by these salinity satellites is contributing to both oceanographic and climate-related studies. These data have been further augmented by improved ocean observations from Argo floats, drifters, and gliders, along with numerical modelling and data assimilation.

The aim of this Special Issue is to highlight recent salinity studies. This includes the successes, applications, and impacts of satellite-derived sea surface salinity measurements on oceanographic research. This Special Issue also highlights several ongoing innovative, synergetic uses of other satellite-derived parameters (e.g., SST, altimetry, scatterometry, ocean color), in situ measurements, data assimilation, and numerical models to further our understanding of the global earth system, especially ocean variability, dynamics, and air–sea interactions.

The topics of interest include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Salinity studies in the aquatic environment;
• Inter-comparison, evaluation, and validation of salinity products ;
• Successes and challenges of satellite-derived sea surface salinity missions;
• Improvements in sea surface salinity retrieval and products;
• Improving retrieval techniques for coastal sea surface salinity;
• Effects of rain on satellite salinity retrieval;
• Understanding salinity variability using satellite(s), in situ observations, and ocean models;
• Ocean salinity budgets, fluxes, and transports;
• Salinity-influenced stratification and air–sea interactions;
• Use of salinity information in understanding freshwater plumes;
• Data assimilation of salinity to improve ocean studies, climate variability, and forecasting;
• Role of salinity in understanding ocean and climate change;
• Using salinity products to improve understanding of the hydrological cycle;
• Novel applications of satellite-derived sea surface salinity products.

Dr. Ebenezer Sackitey Nyadjro
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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