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[15-Jun-12] Understanding the links between ocean circulation, the global water cycle, and climate variations requires knowledge of ocean surface salinity. NASA's Aquarius satellite mission, which began science operations last December, monitors the global open ocean surface salinity field. The mission is expected to yield a new mean global salinity map at higher spatial resolution than existing conventional data, provide new information on El Niño and other interannual climate variations, and improve scientists' knowledge of the marine freshwater budget. Aquarius salinity data is also expected to contribute to improved global coupled climate models and climate prediction. The full article is available to subscribers here.