The SMOS mission is a direct response to the current lack of global observations of soil moisture and ocean salinity which are needed to further our knowledge of the water cycle, and to contribute to better weather and extreme-event forecasting and seasonal-climate forecasting. Variability in soil moisture and ocean salinity is due to the continuous exchange of water between the oceans, the atmosphere and the land.

Learn more about Earth's water cycle and SMOS science objectives in the SMOS multimedia book:

The SMOS mission primarily supports land and ocean applications in a variety of fields. Learn more about these applications in the SMOS multimedia book: Land Applications and Ocean Applications.