May 2021 — Ocean salinity
You probably already know that the ocean is salty. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, “by some estimates, if the salt in the ocean could be removed and spread evenly over the Earth's land surface it would form a layer more than 500 feet (166 meters) thick, about the height of a 40-story office building.”
What you might not know, however, is that the salinity of ocean water can actually help researchers infer information about climate change and variability. Sea surface salinity can act as a “rain gauge” and is used as an indicator for changes to the global water cycle. As salinity in the ocean changes, that information is used to learn about changes in precipitation and evaporation, as well as freshwater glacial melt due to rising temperatures.
In order to measure ocean salinity, researchers around the world utilize products from the Argo Program, an international program that collects information from the ocean using a fleet of robotic instruments that drift with the ocean currents and move up and down between the surface and the mid-water level, continuously providing measurements of temperature, salinity and other variables. Learn more about the Argo Program here.
A University of Delaware study compared and evaluated the variability of ocean salinity from five objective ocean analyses that are based on Argo measurements in the ice-free open ocean from 2005 to 2015. In addition to the locations and time periods studied, the researchers also looked at the measurements at two different depth intervals: one ranging from zero to 700 meters below the surface and one ranging from 700 to 2,000 meters below the surface. The results of their findings were published in the Journal for Climate.
Notable Dates in May
May is still National Bike Month, with a focus on riding “there,” whether “there” is to the grocer for essentials or to the creek and back with the kids. For more information, visit the League of American Cyclists homepage.
May 8 — The mantra of World Migratory Bird Day is “Birds Connect Our World.” To learn how to implement conservation actions that help migratory birds throughout their journey—including shorebirds—visit the official resources page.
May 10 — Americans eat more shrimp than any other seafood, so it’s only right that they have their time to shine on National Shrimp Day. For more facts and resources on healthy seafood consumption, including shrimp, visit our Seafood Health Facts page.
May 18 — International Museum Day is an annual celebration of boundless curiosity, where participating museums plan creative events and activities, engage with their public and highlight the importance of the role of museums in society. For more information, visit the official Museum Day webpage.
May 20 — Join us for Microplastic Pollution in Delaware: Finding Microfibers and What You Can Do About Them, where participants will hear from Dr. Jon Cohen, Associate Professor at the University of Delaware's School of Marine Science and Policy, who samples our local waterways and species for the presence of microplastics, and DESG’s Coastal Ecology Specialist Kate Fleming, who will highlight how these microfibers get into our waterways through domestic laundry, and share science-based information about what we can do about it. Learn more and register here
May 21 — Endangered Species Day is an opportunity for people of all ages to celebrate and learn about endangered species and how to protect them. For virtual activities and online resources, visit this page.