Ocean Physics at NASA
NASA's Ocean Physics program directs multiple competitively-selected NASA Science Teams that study the physics of the Ocean.
About Ocean Physics
The ocean plays a fundamental role in the Earth’s system. It shapes our planet’s climate and weather by absorbing, storing, and transporting large quantities of heat, water, moisture, and carbon dioxide. NASA’s Ocean Physics program enables research that advances our understanding of the ocean’s role in climate. Our scientists utilize NASA satellite and sub-orbital data, climate models and data science to study ocean dynamics, sea level rise, hydrological cycle, and ocean interactions within the Earth system.
Apply to one of the current NASA research opportunities to join us as a NASA scientist.
News
US-French Satellite Takes Stock of World’s River Water
NASA Analysis Shows La Niña Limited Sea Level Rise in 2025
NASA-French SWOT Satellite Provides Global Estimate of River Discharge
A Subtle Return of La Niña
NASA, Partners Share First Data From New US-European Sea Satellite
Sentinel-6B: Extending the Legacy (Mission Overview)
NASA, SpaceX Launch US-European Satellite to Monitor Earth’s Oceans
NASA, European Partners Set to Launch Sentinel-6B Earth Satellite
6 Things to Know From NASA About New US, European Sea Satellite
Sentinel-6/Jason-CS (Continuity of Service) Blog
New US-European Sea Level Satellite Will Help Safeguard Ships at Sea
Science and Research
NASA’s Ocean Physics program directs multiple competitively-selected NASA’s Science Teams that study the physics of the oceans. Below are details about each science team.
Missions
The Ocean Physics program currently provides scientific leadership for the following operational missions. Past and future missions (to be) lead by the Ocean Physics program are also highlighted separately.
Operational
Currently taking measurements
| 👁 po-swot.png Surface Water and Ocean Topography (SWOT) 2022 | 👁 COWVR.png Compact Ocean Wind Vector Radiometer (COWVR) 2021 | 👁 Blue and white SASSIE logo Salinity And Stratification at the Sea Ice Edge (SASSIE) 2021 | 👁 po-sentinel-6.png Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich/Jason-CS November 2020 |
| 👁 po-smode.png Sub-Mesoscale Ocean Dynamics Experiment (S-MODE) April 2020 | 👁 po-jason3.png Jason-3 January 2016 | 👁 SMAP Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) January 2015 |
Future
Upcoming missions
| 👁 po-sentinel-6.png Sentinel-6B 2025 | 👁 Image of large gold colored satellite in orbit above the earth Copernicus Polar Ice and Snow Topography Altimeter (CRISTAL) 2028 |
Non-Operational
Past missions providing data for current research
| 👁 po-omg.png Oceans Melting Greenland (OMG) July 2015 | 👁 po-jason2.png Ocean Surface Topography Mission (OSTM)/Jason-2 2008-2019 | 👁 po-quikscat.png QuikSCAT 1999-2018 | 👁 po-spurs.png SPURS 1&2 2012-2013 & 2016-2017 |
| 👁 po-rapidscat.png RapidScat 2014-2016 | 👁 po-aquarius.png Aquarius 2011-2015 | 👁 po-jason1.png Jason-1 2001-2012 | 👁 po-topex.png TOPEX/Poseidon 1992-2005 |
| 👁 po-seasat.png Seasat 1978 |
Access the Data
👁 po-daac-logo.png
The Physical Oceanography Distributed Active Archive Center (PO.DAAC) preserves NASA's ocean and climate open data and makes these universally accessible and meaningful.
Partnerships
The Ocean Physics program actively engages in the following national and international partnerships that work together to sustain and enhance the Earth observing system.
Contacts
Nadya Vinogradova Shiffer
Lead, NASA Integrated Earth System Observatory
Ocean Physics Program Manager
Contact | Bio