Understanding salinity helps us understand global patterns, including the circulation of water in the deep ocean. Together, salinity and temperature control density at the ocean surface. Thus, satellite salinity measurements are complementary to existing programs that monitor sea surface temperature. The resources on this page illuminate the connection between density and the ocean's motion, and the consequences to our climate.
Salinity changes a lot as you go deeper into the ocean. The satellite can only "see" the ocean surface, a very thin layer around a few centimeters.
