The relation of sea surface salinity to the atmospheric hydrological cycle and ocean circulation is at the core of major ongoing in situ and satellite programs. It is climate relevant, both in the context of recent climate variability and on-going climate change.
We encourage the presentation of investigations on processes maintaining a maximum salinity in the subtropical gyres (in particular the SPURS project), tropical near-surface salinity budgets and studies of the near surface stratification induced by turbulent air-sea fluxes and rain. Results pertaining to the 'modern' ocean and using in situ or new satellite data (for example, SMOS and Aquarius missions) and 'realistic' numeral modelling, will be particularly welcome.