The satellite Surface Water and Ocean Topography (SWOT), a NASA climate observation program in partnership with the French Space Agency CNES, has revealed stunning images of Earth's water during its first full 21-day scientific orbit, capturing a comprehensive view of Earth's water levels. sea surface around the world. The satellite, a collaboration between NASA and the French space agency CNES, is providing valuable insights into changes in the planet's oceans, lakes and rivers, offering unprecedented understanding of ocean currents and water temperature variations.
Analysis of the images revealed anomalies in global sea surface height, represented by vibrant colors, highlighting variations in relation to the global average. The SWOT science team carried out the measurements using the innovative KaRIn instrument, which produces data trails as it circles the globe, bouncing radar pulses off the water's surface to collect crucial information about surface heights.
Parag Vaze, SWOT project manager at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, expressed excitement about the results, emphasizing the data's potential to drive climate change research and support communities globally in preparing for a future impacted by global warming.
Launched in December 2022, SWOT, currently in operation, represents a remarkable international collaboration, with contributions from the Canadian Space Agency, the United Kingdom Space Agency and Thales Alenia Space. With SWOT in full operation, it is expected that this data will continue to provide valuable insights into understanding and mitigating the effects of climate change on our global aquatic ecosystems.
