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Estimation of Surface Freshwater Fluxes in the Arctic Ocean Using Satellite-Derived Salinity

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Abstract

The temporal and spatial distribution of sea surface salinity (SSS) is not well known in the Arctic region, and only recent satellite-derived measurements and models have allowed for potential enhancement, though their accuracy remains uncertain. We use NASA’s Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) and the European Space Agency’s Soil Moisture Ocean Salinity (SMOS) to investigate the variability of SSS in the Arctic from 2015 to 2017, as well as to calculate surface advective freshwater fluxes. These data sets are compared with Argo and European Center for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts Ocean Reanalysis version 4 (ORAS) to assess the ability of satellites in detecting freshwater fluxes. Salinity and surface freshwater fluxes are estimated for the Bering Strait and Barents Sea Opening (BSO). In this study, we have compared the Jet Propulsion Laboratory’s (JPL) SMAP salinity to the remote sensing system’s (RSS) SMAP salinity product, as well as the The Centre Aval de Traitement des donnéees SMOS salinity product. There is disagreement between the reanalysis product and satellites on the mean and variability of surface freshwater fluxes in the BSO; however, the meridional fluxes of the satellites and reanalysis product were significantly correlated within the Bering Strait. This shows the capability of using satellites to measure surface freshwater fluxes in this pathway. However, the discrepancies between satellite-derived SSS and fluxes in other regions of the Arctic Ocean emphasizes the need to increase in situ monitoring to help validate satellites in the higher latitudes.

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Acknowledgments

JPL SMAP data is produced by Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and version 4.0 is obtained from NASA JPL PO.DAAC Drive (https://podaac-tools.jpl.nasa.gov/drive/files/allData/smap/retired/L3/JPL/V4/monthly) (doi: https://doi.org/10.5067/SMP40-3TMCS). RSS SMAP data is produced by Remote Sensing Systems and obtained from NASA JPL PO.DAAC Drive (https://podaac-tools.jpl.nasa.gov/drive/files/SalinityDensity/smap/L3/RSS/V3/monthly/SCI/70KM) (DOI: https://doi.org/10.5067/SMP3A-3SPCS). The L3_DEBIAS_LOCEAN_v3 Sea Surface Salinity maps have been produced by LOCEAN/IPSL (UMR CNRS/UPMC/IRD/MNHN) laboratory and ACRI-st company that participate to the Ocean Salinity Expertise Center (CECOS) of Centre Aval de Traitement des Donnees SMOS (CATDS). This product is distributed by the Ocean Salinity Expertise Center (CECOS) of the CNES-IFREMER Centre Aval de Traitement des Donnees SMOS (CATDS), at IFREMER, Plouzane (France) (http://www.catds.fr/Products/Available-products-from-CEC-OS/CEC-Locean-L3-Debiased-v3). AVISO sea surface height is obtained from Copernicus (http://marine.copernicus.eu/services-portfolio/access-to-products/?option=com_csw&view=details&product_id=SEALEVEL_GLO_PHY_L4_REP_OBSERVATIONS_008_047). ORAS4 is produced by ECMWF (ftp://ftp-icdc.cen.uni-hamburg.de/EASYInit/ORA-S4/). We are thankful for the helpful comments of the editor and two anonymous reviewers, which improved the quality of this paper.

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  1. School of the Earth, Ocean, and Environment, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, 29208, USA

    Rachel E. Nichols & Bulusu Subrahmanyam

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  1. Rachel E. Nichols
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Correspondence to Rachel E. Nichols.

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Nichols, R.E., Subrahmanyam, B. Estimation of Surface Freshwater Fluxes in the Arctic Ocean Using Satellite-Derived Salinity. Remote Sens Earth Syst Sci 2, 247–259 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s41976-019-00027-5

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