NASA’s SWOT satellite has provided researchers with an unprecedented look at the water present on Earth. The satellite collected data that enabled the creation of maps showing ocean, freshwater lake, and river levels worldwide. The first complete 21-day scientific orbit of the satellite began in July and ended in August, during which time data for the animation was gathered.
The SWOT project manager at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Parag Vaze, commented, “The detail that SWOT is sending back on sea levels around the world is incredible.” The animation was created using data from the satellite’s Ka-band Radar Interferometer (KaRIn) sensor, which measures surface heights by reflecting radar pulses off the water’s surface. The data depicted variations in sea surface heights globally, highlighting areas where water levels are below or above average.
The satellite, launched in December 2022, is expected to stay in Earth’s orbit for at least three years. Its high resolution has the potential to enhance predictions and address natural disasters such as droughts and floods, and provide valuable information for water management decisions.
With the ability to observe water quantities covering about 90% of the globe’s surface every three weeks, the SWOT mission gathers crucial data to help prepare communities for climate change and understand its effects. NASA and the French space agency CNES collaborated on the SWOT satellite program, and it recorded an ocean heat wave along California’s coast in August 2023.
The SWOT satellite is a significant tool for researchers and scientists, as it provides detailed information about the water present on Earth and offers new insights that were previously unseen. The data it gathers has the potential to significantly impact how we understand and manage Earth’s valuable water resources.
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