SWOT (NASA–CNES)

SWOT measures more than 95% of Earth's lakes larger than 15 acres and rivers wider than 330 feet, the first global survey of fresh water.

Image: NASA/JPL-Caltech.

Last reviewed: 2 sources cited

Explain Like I'm 10

The Five W's of SWOT

Who

NASA and the French space agency CNES (a U.S.-European mission).

Source: NASA JPL, SWOT freshwater survey

What

A radar interferometer satellite that measures the height of water on land and at sea.

Source: NASA JPL, SWOT freshwater survey

Source: NASA Earthdata, SWOT data release

When

Operating now; it covers the whole planet every 21 days.

Source: NASA Earthdata, SWOT data release

Where

Orbiting 554 miles (891 km) up, scanning between 78° North and 78° South.

Source: NASA Earthdata, SWOT data release

Why

Fresh water is unevenly measured on the ground; SWOT gives every country the same view of its rivers and lakes.

Source: NASA JPL, SWOT freshwater survey

Impact Statement

Agency solution · active

SWOT (Surface Water and Ocean Topography) is the first global survey of Earth's fresh water. It measures more than 95% of lakes larger than 15 acres and rivers wider than 330 feet, tracking how much water flows through rivers and is stored in lakes and reservoirs.

Source: NASA JPL, SWOT freshwater survey

Source: NASA Earthdata, SWOT data release

Value to Earth: water managers can see droughts and floods building. Value to the atmosphere and climate: SWOT sees ocean eddies smaller than 60 miles across, which move heat and carbon between the ocean and the air. Value to space: it shows what a radar satellite in can measure that no ground network can reach.

Source: NASA JPL, SWOT freshwater survey

For Further Information: NASA JPL, SWOT freshwater survey

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For Teachers

Discussion questions

  1. What is SWOT (NASA–CNES), and what problem does it help solve?
  2. Who is behind SWOT (NASA–CNES), and where does the work happen?
  3. How does SWOT (NASA–CNES) help both people and nature? Use one fact from this page.

Sources are listed with each fact in the Five W's above.

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Cite This Page

APA

Saving Planets. (n.d.). SWOT (NASA–CNES). https://www.savingplanets.com/SWOT.html

MLA

"SWOT (NASA–CNES)." Saving Planets, https://www.savingplanets.com/SWOT.html.

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