ARGENTINA: July 28, 2008
BUENOS AIRES - Argentine and NASA scientists hope a new satellite will help
them better track global climate change by measuring salt levels on the
surface of the world's oceans.
Researchers from around the world on Thursday approved the final design of
the satellite, which is slated to launch in 2010 and expected to provide new
clues to help better predict shifts in climate.
An ocean's salt level yields key information about the Earth's temperatures
and ocean currents that may help scientists understand the effects of global
warming.
Experts currently measure salt levels manually, gathering samples at sea.
However, the labor-intensive method means 24 percent of the ocean's surface
has never been tested for salinity levels.
The new SAC-D Aquarius satellite will measure salinity levels around the
globe, once a month for three years.
"We can't measure enough salinity from ships or buoys to get the climate
predictions correct, so salinity measurement from space will transform some
of our seasonal climate predictions," said NASA oceanographer Eric
Lindstrom.
Any swing in salinity levels could also reveal more clues about the behavior
of ocean currents that in turn may signal drastic changes in climate,
scientists say.
Scientists are trying to determine the impact of global warming on
constantly moving ocean currents, which act like a conveyor belt, helping to
regulate temperatures by moving cold and warm water around the globe.
Those currents can be altered if the ocean becomes less salty, and changes
in ocean currents could affect climate patterns. For example, studies show
reduced circulation related to salinity levels cooled the climate during the
Ice Age.
The satellite would study whether salinity levels have been affected, for
example, by climate shifts in the northern hemisphere that have melted
glaciers and increased rainfall, sending more fresh water into oceans.
Argentine scientists designed the satellite, which includes high sensitivity
cameras and solar panels, while NASA built the microwave radiometer that
will do the measuring.
The satellite will be assembled in Argentina.
(Writing by Kevin Gray, Editing by Sandra Maler)
Story by Juan Bustamante
REUTERS NEWS SERVICE
