(MWN / 04-10-09) The European Space Agency (ESA) launched two days ago the SMOS observation satellite which will have an important role in the investigation and monitoring climate change. Until 2012 the device will measure salt concentration in the oceans and humidity in continents.

From an average altitude of 471 miles and helped by 69 microwave antennas, SMOS will provide information of land and water. The researchers in charge of the operation hope that the device will provide new data on the hydrological cycle.

Water exchange among the atmosphere, oceans and Earth is one of the factors that is believed to determine weather and climate. The launch was done from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome in Russia, and the cost of the mission was of U $ S 463,700 million.

Salt content, along with temperature, influences the density of seawater. At the same time, it plays an important role in circulation of oceans that transport heat from the tropics to higher latitudes. “The Gulf current warms Europe with an energy that is comparable to the one generated by 100,000 nuclear power plants,” said the director of observation programs of ESA, Volker Liebig.

Also, he pointed out that data on soil moisture will help improve forecasting of extreme weather events and their environmental impact. “If the soil is too wet, it can only absorb little water in case of heavy rainfall. This could cause serious flooding.”