In anticipation of the 2010 launch of Aquarius, our education technology team has developed a set of interactive tools using historical salinity, temperature, and density data sets (NOAA World Ocean Atlas & Database, 2005). These data are available as three distinct yet complementary tools that highlight: (1) spatial patterns of long-term mean data; (2) annual cycle of monthly mean data; and (3) change over time of yearly mean data. Each interactive tool has its own "Tutorial" slide show. Click here to access these tools.

Funded under NASA's Earth System Science Pathfinder Program, the Aquarius instrument will collect sea surface salinity (SSS) data over the global oceans. SSS is key to understanding the water cycle because 86% of global evaporation and 78% of global precipitation occur over the oceans. Together with in-water profiles from the ARGO system, scientists will have an unprecedented three-dimensional view of ocean salinity patterns. With these data and advanced computer models, we will discover how our oceans are tied to water cycle and climate.

Interested in how sea surface salinity compares with patterns of air temperature, sea surface temperature, evaporation and precipitation? Check out the Aquarius "Sea Surface Salinity Patterns Analysis Tool"