Data from NASA’s Aquarius instrument has helped researchers create worldwide maps of soil moisture, showing how the wetness of the land fluctuates with the seasons and weather phenomena. Soil moisture, the water contained within soil particles, is an important player in Earth’s water cycle. When it launched in June 2011, the primary science objective of the Aquarius mission was to study the salt content of ocean surface waters. But investigators have since developed a method to retrieve soil moisture data from the instrument’s microwave radiometer. Also, SLS Core Preliminary Design Review, JWST update and Dry ice gullies on Mars.
Tag: aquarius
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Aquarius Nears on This Week @NASA
Scientists from Argentina, Brazil, Canada, France and Italy were at NASA Headquarters in Washington to discuss their upcoming international spacecraft mission, Aquarius/SAC-D. Scheduled to launch June 9th, the spacecraft’s primary instrument will scan the world’s oceans to measure surface salinity, important to ocean circulation and climate. Also, Atlantis’ final rollover; Bolden checks out Juno; lowering the booms; astronauts as aquanauts; Houston’s hero; a new STORRM on station; Goddard open house; and remembering JFK’s challenge to America.