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Sea Surface
Salinity

Mouth of the Amazon

The Amazon is the largest river in the world in terms of the amount of freshwater it carries and discharges into the Atlantic Ocean. It produces a surface plume of low salinity and high concentrations of suspended materials and nutrients that spread for thousands of kilometres carried by the strong currents in the area.

© Sentinel-2, Copernicus, ESA

MOTION

Sea Surface Salinity is an Essential Climate Variable that plays a fundamental role in the density-driven circulation of global ocean currents, the water cycle, and climate.

Sea surface salinity has a big impact on the movement of water mass in oceans around the world. Together with temperature, salinity is the driving force of ocean currents.

© ESA–CCI

Roberto Sabia

Earth Observation Ocean scientist

European Space Agency - ESA

Salinity plays an active role in ocean circulation. Together with temperature, it determines sea water density. Variations in density trigger a particular type of ocean circulation known as thermohaline circulation, which redistributes heat all over the world.
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