New Satellite to Help Track Ocean Salt Levels

Argentine and Nasa scientists hope a new satellite will help them better track global climate change by measuring salt levels on the surface of the world's oceans.

Researchers from around the world on Thursday approved the final design of the satellite, which is slated to launch in 2010 and expected to provide new clues to help better predict shifts in climate.

An ocean's salt level yields key information about the Earth's temperatures and ocean currents that may help scientists understand the effects of global warming.

Experts currently measure salt levels manually, gathering samples at sea. However, the labour-intensive method means 24 percent of the ocean's surface has never been tested for salinity levels...