diff --git a/utils/obsproc/Smap2Ioda.h b/utils/obsproc/Smap2Ioda.h
index a48e66141..12a958426 100644
--- a/utils/obsproc/Smap2Ioda.h
+++ b/utils/obsproc/Smap2Ioda.h
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ namespace gdasapp {
    public:
     explicit Smap2Ioda(const eckit::Configuration & fullConfig, const eckit::mpi::Comm & comm)
       : NetCDFToIodaConverter(fullConfig, comm) {
-      variable_ = "Salinity";
+      variable_ = "seaSurfaceSalinity";
     }
 
     // Read netcdf file and populate iodaVars
diff --git a/utils/obsproc/Smos2Ioda.h b/utils/obsproc/Smos2Ioda.h
index 6c951e4ab..25fcd6001 100644
--- a/utils/obsproc/Smos2Ioda.h
+++ b/utils/obsproc/Smos2Ioda.h
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ namespace gdasapp {
    public:
     explicit Smos2Ioda(const eckit::Configuration & fullConfig, const eckit::mpi::Comm & comm)
       : NetCDFToIodaConverter(fullConfig, comm) {
-      variable_ = "Salinity";
+      variable_ = "seaSurfaceSalinity";
     }
 
     // Read netcdf file and populate iodaVars