First-ever Ocean Salinity Satellite Launched

On November 2nd a first-ever satellite to measure ocean salinity was launched. This satellite will measure surface salinity over the ocean and map soil moisture over land. What is really interesting is how the SMOS satellite is measuring ocean salinity. "SMOS measures the ocean's natural emission at a microwave frequency (L-band) corresponding to a wavelength around 23 cm, which is sensitive to the salinity of the surface water. Measuring the amount of energy being emitted at a particular microwave frequency allows inferences to be made about the salinity." It might be a while until SMOS can measure our aquarium's salinity, but the data from this satellite will lead to a better understanding of our oceans, which is a good thing all the same.


Soil Moisture and Ocean Salinity satellite. (Credit: ESA)

SMOS Satellite Successfully Launched: First-ever Satellite To Attempt To Measure Ocean Salinity From Space

ScienceDaily (Nov. 2, 2009) — A rocket carrying the European Space Agency's (ESA) Soil Moisture and Ocean Salinity (SMOS) satellite (2 November) blasted off successfully today at 02:50 Central European Time from Plesetsk Cosmodrome in Northern Russia.


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SMOS Satellite Successfully Launched: First-ever Satellite To Attempt To Measure Ocean Salinity From Space

 

I just got a refractometer, now I'm going to have to get a satellite too.

 

Pretty awesome

 

SMOS Promotional Video:

Official SMOS Site:
ESA - Living Planet Programme - SMOS