Salinity Gradients in Coastal Waters by Airborne Microwave Radiometer Remote Sensing

A project was proposed, and funded, to use the airborne polarimetric L-band multi-beam radiometer (PLMR) to observe salinity gradients across the continental shelf in order to evaluate the cross-shelf mixing and residence time for water in the Great Barrier Reef. This paper examines issues of accuracy and uses first results from the project to demonstrate that the PLMR is capable of observing salinity gradients of the order of 0.01 PSU per km.