Ocean Physics at NASA
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About
The ocean plays a fundamental role in the Earth’s system. It shapes our planet’s climate and weather by absorbing, storing, and transporting large quantities of heat, water, moisture, and carbon dioxide. NASA’s Physical Oceanography (PO) program enables research that advances our understanding of the ocean’s role in climate. Our scientists utilize NASA satellite and sub-orbital data, climate models and data science to study ocean dynamics, sea level rise, hydrological cycle, and ocean interactions within the Earth system.
To join us and become a NASA scientist, apply to one of current NASA research opportunities.
Science and Research
NASA’s Physical Oceanography program directs multiple competitively-selected NASA’s Science Teams that study the physics of the oceans. Below are details about each science team.
Sea Level Change (N-SLCT)
Ocean Surface Topography (OSTST)
Ocean Surface Salinity (OSST)
Ocean Vector Winds (OVWST)
Sea Surface Temperature (SST)
Missions
PO program provides scientific leadership on the following missions:
Operational
Currently taking measurements
Surface Water and Ocean Topography (SWOT)
2022
Compact Ocean Wind Vector Radiometer (COWVR)
2021
Salinity And Stratification at the Sea Ice Edge (SASSIE)
2021
Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich/Jason-CS
November 2020
Sub-Mesoscale Ocean Dynamics Experiment (S-MODE)
April 2020
Jason-3
January 2016
Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP)
January 2015
Future
Upcoming missions
Non-Operational
Past missions providing data for current research
Oceans Melting Greenland (OMG)
July 2015
QuikSCAT
1999-2018
RapidScat
2014-2016
Aquarius
2011-2015
Jason-1
2001-2012
TOPEX/Poseidon
1992-2005
Seasat
1978
Access the Data
The Physical Oceanography Distributed Active Archive Center (PO.DAAC) preserves NASA's ocean and climate open data and makes these universally accessible and meaningful.
Partnerships
PO program actively engages in the following national and international partnerships that work together to sustain and enhance the Earth observing system.
US Global Change Research Program (USGCRP)
NASA-ESA Earth Science Joint Program Planning Group
NASA-ESA Satellite and In situ Salinity Working Group
Contacts
Nadya Vinogradova Shiffer
Lead, NASA Climate Variability and Change
Physical Oceanography Program Manager
Contact | Bio
Jessica Hausman
Physical Oceanography Support Scientist
Contact | Bio