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Lindstrom, E., Lagerloef, G., and Le Vine, D. (17-Nov-15)

Aquarius was NASA's first mission dedicated to measuring ocean surface salinity, and demonstrated both technical feasibility and scientific merit. The overarching science goal was to understand the links between ocean circulation, the water cycle and climate. Of the three L-band satellite sensors (SMOS, Aquarius and SMAP), Aquarius provided the most accurate measurements over the ocean, and was the first Passive-Active L-band sensor in space. A review of the history, products and scientific accomplishments for the Aquarius instrument, as well as the legacy that Aquarius data leaves for future researchers are discussed.