SMOS captures variations in SSS fronts during El Niño and La Niña

Abstract

The launch of the Soil Moisture and Ocean Salinity (SMOS) satellite has promoted research on sea surface salinity (SSS) and salinity fronts (SF). The SF in the central Pacific Ocean is influenced by El Niño and La Niña events, and the physical processes involved are complex. In this study, we evaluated the ability of the SMOS product from the Barcelona Expert Centre (BEC) to retrieve SF using a simple and intuitive method. Furthermore, this study investigated seasonal variations in the SF and its response to El Niño and La Niña events. The accuracy of the SMOS BEC L4 SSS is sufficient for studying SF. By selecting reasonable SF thresholds and analyzing its locations and intensities, in the central equatorial Pacific Ocean, SF can be divided into two: northern and southern SF. The variability in the northern SF is primarily influenced by the migration of the intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ), whereas both freshwater flux and salt advection are the primary factors in the southern SF. They correspond to El Niño and La Niña events through freshwater flux and salt advection. These findings can provide information for the study of the SF based on satellite data and enhance our understanding of El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) dynamics.