Sea Surface Salinity

Ocean salinity is usually expressed as "parts per thousand". Thus water with a salinity of 35 ppt (close to the world average) actually contains 3.5% salt. Salinity increases with evaporation and decreases with river runoff and rain. Salinity is calculated from measurements of electrical conductivity. It is currently impossible to measure salinity using remote sensing but a new satellite should be in orbit in 2009 with an instrument that promises to provide this capability. The imagery here provided is from mathematical models. It is accurate on the gross level but the finer features displayed may not be entirely true. Three things are apparent from these images:
- Lowering of surface salinity (blue) by the Orinoco and Amazon River plumes throughout the eastern Caribbean.
- The influence of ocean eddies on these plumes
- The high salinity waters (deep red) arising from coastal upwelling processes along the southern Caribbean.