The American space agency NASA says the satellite is expected to measure the elevation of nearly all water on Earth’s surface. It is the largest and most detailed effort yet to map the world’s water.
The satellite is called SWOT, which stands for Surface Water and Ocean Topography. SWOT is a joint project between NASA and the French space agency, CNES.
The satellite uses radar technology and other instruments to collect detailed height and surface measurements of water in oceans, lakes and rivers. Oceans cover more than 70 percent of Earth’s surface.
Researchers say the information can help them learn more about how the world’s water supply influences climate change.
One major goal of the project is to research how oceans take in atmospheric heat and carbon dioxide. The natural process moderates temperatures and climate change.
Data will be recorded from radar readings on about 90 percent of Earth’s surface. Such data can support efforts to learn about ocean currents, predict the weather and control freshwater supplies in areas with little rain, NASA says.
The information is also expected to assist communities as they seek to improve and manage their water resources and prepare for floods and other disasters, the researchers said.
NASA Administrator Bill Nelson spoke about SWOT’s activities as the first observations of the world’s water supply arrived to Earth.
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