11.05.23 - Measuring water dynamics using satellite imagery: Insights into SWOT's data acquisitions

Earth’s water bodies have been proven to be vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. Studying water dynamics and taking inventory of resources at the global scale are keys to adjusting to the impact of climate change.
 
The international (NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Centre National d'Études Spatiales, CSA, UKSA) mission SWOT (surface water and ocean topography) was successfully launched in December 2022. The mission aims to provide a comprehensive survey of both freshwater and ocean features with an unprecedented resolution.

The KaRIn (Ka-band Radar Interferometer) space altimeter, based on SAR interferometry is capable of accurately measuring fine differences in water elevation down to tens of centimetres. The wide acquisition band (120 km) allows for large geographical areas to be covered with a repeat coverage of 21 days, which guarantees extensive 2D monitoring of water elevation fluctuations.
 
The satellite and instruments are currently in the commissioning phase before the scientific operation begins next July. SWOT’s first data acquisitions are already providing a detailed view of ocean currents such as the Gulf Stream off the coast of North Carolina and Virginia, while views of Toulouse and its surroundings are providing high-resolution measurements of lakes and rivers.
The mission promises major implications for hydrology and oceanography. Among others, it will shed new light on the sea level rise around the globe and on freshwater management to better anticipate adaptation measures for the population.

At STDL we are very excited to see what these new data will produce and we will continue to follow and share with you the information / projects that will be published.

#remotesensing #water #SWOTmission #oceanography #hydrology