NASA's Aquarius Sees Salty Shifts
The complete first year dataset of NASA's Aquarius instrument reveals seasonal changes in the Amazon River's plume. Depending on the prevailing currents, the river's freshwater outflow heads east toward Africa or bends up north to the Caribbean.
Launched June 10, 2011, onboard the Argentinian spacecraft Aquarius/Satélite de Aplicaciones Científicas (SAC)-D, Aquarius is NASA’s first satellite instrument specifically designed to study the salt content of ocean surface waters. Salinity variations, one of the main drivers of ocean circulation, are closely connected with the cycling of freshwater around the planet and provide scientists with valuable information on how the changing global climate is altering global rainfall patterns.
To learn more about the Aquarius' first-year discoveries, visit:
www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/aquarius/news/data-first-year....
To read more and to view the full lenght video go to: 1.usa.gov/12br9nF
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center enables NASA’s mission through four scientific endeavors: Earth Science, Heliophysics, Solar System Exploration, and Astrophysics. Goddard plays a leading role in NASA’s accomplishments by contributing compelling scientific knowledge to advance the Agency’s mission.
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