ESA - Living Planet Programme - SMOS - SMOS science overview

ESA's water mission SMOS

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SMOS science overview

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Earth's water cycle. Powered by the Sun, the Earth's finite water supply is continuously being circulated between the oceans, the atmosphere and the land. This circulation and conservation of Earth's water is a crucial component of our weather and climate.

Credits: ESA - AOES Medialab

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Animation of the energy and water balance of the physical climate system including terrestrial and atmospheric components of the water cycle.

Credits: ESA - AOES Medialab

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Map showing average distribution of sea-surface salinity values. Areas of red indicate regions of high salinity, and areas of green indicate regions of low salinity. The map is overlaid with the simplified global circulation pattern called the 'thermohaline circulation'. The blue arrows indicate cool deeper currents and the red indicate wamer surface currents. Temperature (thermal) and salinity (haline) variations are key variables affecting ocean circulation.

Credits: ESA

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Temperature (thermo) and salinity (haline) variations are key variables affecting global ocean circulation patterns. The blue arrows indicated cool deeper currents and the red indicate warmer surface currents.

Credits: ESA/AOES Medialab

Last update: 2 November 2010

SMOS launch

Track SMOS

Access SMOS data

More information

SMOS - ESA's water mission (BR-288)SMOS - la misión del agua de la ESA
(BR-278)SMOS – mission de l'ESA dédiée au cycle de l'eau (BR-278)SMOS factsheet

Special features

SMOS: ESA's water mission

From a technological perspective

Technology leaps let SMOS follow Earth’s water