P-6

Improvements to a global ocean data assimilation system through the incorporation of satellite-derived surface salinity data

T. Toyoda (Meteorological Research Institute), Y. Fujii (Meteorological Research Institute), T. Kuragano (Meteorological Research Institute), J. P. Matthews (Kyoto University), H. Abe (Hokkaido University), N. Ebuchi (Hokkaido University), N. Usui (Meteorological Research Institute), K. Ogawa (Fukuoka District Meteorological Observatory), and M. Kamachi (Meteorological Research Institute)

The Aquarius/Satelite de Aplicaciones Cientificas (SAC)-D satellite, an L-band passive radar system has been providing global maps of sea surface salinity (SSS) since 25 August 2011. In parallel with the ongoing satellite observations, assiduous efforts for reducing measurement errors have been made along with detailed validation campaigns. As a result, there are multiple possibilities for new science. For example, the new SSS field obtained on completion of a few annual cycles of Aquarius measurements will support detailed climate studies and should greatly improve our understanding of the ocean freshwater cycle. In order to enhance the description of oceanic processes by using Aquarius SSS data we make use of a data assimilation approach, which has the advantage of providing four-dimensional analysis fields incorporating the limited observational data within the framework of established dynamical models. Hence, we aim to merge Aquarius data into the global ocean data assimilation system developed in the Meteorological Research Institute and then assess its impacts on the upper-ocean field.