Seasonal Variability of Sea Surface Salinity in the NW Gulf of Guinea from SMAP Satellite

The advent of satellite-derived sea surface salinity (SSS) measurements has boosted scientific study in less-sampled ocean regions such as the northwestern Gulf Guinea (NWGoG). In this study, we examine seasonal variability SSS NWGoG from Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) satellite and show that it is well-suited for regional studies able to reproduce observed features region. SMAP bias, relative in-situ data comparisons, reflects differences between skin layer bulk have been reported by previous studies. results reveal three broad anomalous features: a basin-wide salinification during boreal summer, freshening winter, meridionally oriented frontal system other seasons. A salt budget estimation suggests dominated changes freshwater flux, zonal circulation, upwelling. Freshwater primarily driven seasonally varying Intertropical Convergence Zone, dominant contributor all seasons except fall. Regionally, most variable off southwestern Nigeria controlled westward extensions Niger River. Anomalous salty coasts Cote d’Ivoire Ghana especially summer are mainly coastal upwelling horizontal advection.