Please Note: This dataset is retired, and is displayed for archive purposes only, and may not reflect the most updated information.

However, a newer version exists.
RSS SMAP Level 2C Sea Surface Salinity V6.0 Validated Dataset. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5067/SMP60-2SOCS

For Version History information click here >>

RSS SMAP Level 2C Sea Surface Salinity V2.0 Validated Dataset

(SMAP_RSS_L2_SSS_V2)
3 Publications Cited this Dataset
Citation metrics available for years (2014-2022)
DOI10.5067/SMP20-2SOCS
Short NameSMAP_RSS_L2_SSS_V2
DescriptionThe version 2.0 SMAP-SSS, level 2C product contains the first release of the validated sea surface salinity orbital/swath data from the NASA Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) observatory, and is produced operationally by Remote Sensing Systems (RSS). This release builds upon the legacy of the Aquarius/SAC mission and the official NASA salinity retrieval algorithm which is now applied to observations from the SMAP mission. The SMAP-SSS L2C product includes data for a range of parameters: derived sea surface salinity (SSS), brightness temperatures for each radiometer polarization, antenna temperatures, collocated wind speed, data and ancillary reference surface salinity data from HYCOM, rain rate, quality flags, and navigation data. Each data file covers one 98-minute orbit (15 files per day). Data begins on April 1,2015 and is ongoing, with a one-month latency in processing and availability. Observations are global in extent and provided at a 0.25 degree x 0.25 degree grid with an approximate spatial resolution of 40 km. The SMAP satellite is in a near-polar orbit at an inclination of 98 degrees and an altitude of 685 km. It has an ascending node time of 6 pm and is sun-synchronous. With its 1000km swath, SMAP achieves global coverage in approximately 3 days, but has an exact orbit repeat cycle of 8 days. On board Instruments include a highly sensitive L-band radiometer operating at 1.41GHz and an L-band 1.26GHz radar sensor providing complementary active and passive sensing capabilities. Malfunction of the SMAP scatterometer on 7 July, 2015, has necessitated the use of collocated wind speed, primarily from WindSat, for the surface roughness correction required for the surface salinity retrieval.
Version2.0
Dataset TypeDEPRECATED
Questions related to this dataset? Contact podaac@podaac.jpl.nasa.gov
Please contact podaac@podaac.jpl.nasa.gov for more info.
Citation is critically important for dataset documentation and discovery. Please cite the data as follows, and cite the reference papers when it is appropriate.
Citation Remote Sensing Systems (RSS). 2016. SMAP Sea Surface Salinity Products. Ver. 2.0. PO.DAAC, CA, USA. Dataset accessed [YYYY-MM-DD] at https://doi.org/10.5067/SMP20-2SOCS

Download Citation
RIS BIB XML JSON-LD

For more information see Data Citations and Acknowledgments.
Journal Reference Meissner, T. and F. J. Wentz, 2016: Remote Sensing Systems SMAP Ocean Surface Salinities, Version 2.0 validated release. Remote Sensing Systems, Santa Rosa, CA, USA.

.
VersionDatasetVersion DateStatus
6.0RSS SMAP Level 2C Sea Surface Salinity V6.0 Validated Dataset2024-01-08ACTIVE2024-01-08T18:42:00.000Z
6.0RSS SMAP Level 2C Sea Surface Salinity NRT V6.0 Validated Dataset2024-01-08ACTIVE2024-01-08T18:49:00.000Z
5.3RSS SMAP Level 2C Sea Surface Salinity V5.3 Evaluation Dataset2024-04-16COMPLETE2024-04-16T15:59:00.000Z
5.0RSS SMAP Level 2C Sea Surface Salinity V5.0 Validated Dataset2022-07-19ACTIVE2022-07-19T17:30:00.000Z
4.0RSS SMAP Level 2C Sea Surface Salinity V4.0 Validated Dataset2021-09-01ACTIVE2021-09-01T15:58:00.000Z
3.0RSS SMAP Level 2 Sea Surface Salinity V3.0 40km Validated DatasetPresentRETIRED.
2.0RSS SMAP Level 2C Sea Surface Salinity V2.0 Validated Dataset2024-03-20RETIRED.2024-03-20T15:30:00.000Z