Le Service national d'observation de la salinité de surface de la mer : 50 ans de mesures océaniques globales

Abstract

La salinité de surface de la mer (SSS : Sea Surface Salinity) influence la dynamique océanique et porte la signature du cycle de l'eau à l'interface océan-atmosphère. Pour mieux comprendre ses variations, le Service national d'observation SSS (SNO SSS) du Laboratoire d'études en géophysique et océanographie spatiales (Legos, Toulouse) gère un réseau global de navires d'opportunité équipés de thermosalinographes, initié il y a 50 ans. La maintenance des instruments est effectuée aux ports de Nouméa et du Havre par l'Institut de recherche pour le développement (IRD). Les données sont transmises en temps réel pour la surveillance des instruments et l'océanographie opérationnelle. Après correction des dérives instrumentales en temps différé, les données sont mises à disposition de la communauté scientifique internationale, et permettent d'étudier des processus océaniques et climatiques d'échelle régionale à globale, ou de valider modèles et données satellitaires. Sea Surface Salinity (SSS) affects the ocean dynamics and bears the signature of the water cycle at the ocean-atmosphere interface. To better understand its variations, the French SSS Observation Service from the Laboratory for Studies in Geophysics and Spatial Oceanography (LEGOS, Toulouse, France) manages a global network of voluntary observing ships equipped with thermosalinographs (TSG), initiated 50 years ago. The instruments are regularly serviced at harbour calls in New Caledonia and mainland France by the French National Research Institute for Sustainable Development (IRD). Data are transmitted in real time for instrument monitoring and operational oceanography. After correction of instrumental drifts in delayed time, data are freely distributed to the international research community, and used for process-oriented climate studies from regional to global scale, or for validation of models and satellite data.

Global Analysis of Coastal Gradients of Sea Surface Salinity

“…In situ SSS data used in the present study come from underway TSG measurements available in the global Ocean from 1993 to the present (Figure 1a). The main source is the French TSG database, including measurements from VOS, managed by the SSS Observation Service [17], from research vessels (RV) [37] and sailing ships [38], representing together about half of the global TSG network [39]. Other sources include TSG data from the US-managed Shipboard Automated Meteorological and Oceanographic System initiative [40], VOS managed by the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), by the Japanese National Institute for Environmental Studies and VOS Nippon organization, RV operated by NOAA, the Australian Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization and the Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology.…”