The GOSUD data are distributed for various purposes:
- Scientific studies
- Operational oceanography
- Satellite validation
Three main classes of users:
- Operational oceanography
- SSS data are mainly used for validation purposes
- Related studies undertaken: study of the vertical variability of SSS, link the vertical profiles measurements to the surface data by better understanding of the vertical differences within the upper-ten meters
- Global coupled atmosphere and ocean models
- Scientific studies needs high resolution data
- SSS variability and trends in the tropical Pacific
- Elaborating a SSS and a SST climatology
- Satellite and in-situ instrument data validation studies
- In the very near future, GOSUD’s SSS data will be a major contributor to validation of the SSS data to be collected by the SMOS (European Space Agency) and Aquarius (USA and Argentina) satellites. SMOS has been launched in November 2009 and Aquarius is expected to be launched in 2011 The underway in situ data is an important contribution because of the information it provides about the horizontal variability of temperature and salinity in the near surface. This, used in conjunction with vertical profile data, will allow researchers to evaluate how well the satellite measurements relate to the distribution of SSS.