Mission Status & Events

Update from Aquarius PI Gary Lagerloef: V3.0 Data Release and Upcoming Events
[31-Jan-14] Update from Aquarius PI Gary Lagerloef:

Here are a few important updates to report:

1. Aquarius V3.0 data release. Version 3.0 will be delayed a few weeks, and now planned for 20 February 2014. The revision and testing of the data quality flags has taken longer than anticipated. An end to end test run of the new code is processing as I write. This must be evaluated and documented before release. As noted earlier, one of the key developments is a new correction for the galaxy reflection that effectively eliminates the ascending-descending biases and the spurious quasi-seasonal signals we see in the V2.0 data. The new version entails a number of other technical improvements, including revised antenna pattern corrections, improved wind and roughness correction model and revised quality flags.

2. The Journal of Geophysical Research (Oceans) Special Section Deadline is only one month away (28 February 2014). The call for papers for special section titled Early scientific results from the salinity measuring satellites Aquarius/SAC-D and SMOS, will remain open until then on the Wiley Online website.

3. Mark your calendars: The Next Aquarius/SAC-D Science Team Meeting is planned for 11-14 November 2014 in Seattle. This meeting will coincide with the end of the Aquarius 3-year prime mission. The meeting program will focus on an assessment of the science accomplishments, working groups, overall data quality, mission requirements, and plans for developing the extended mission proposal in early 2015. More information regarding the venue and logistics will be announced in coming months.