Earth Science Satellite Will Help Communities Plan for a Better Future

A new collaborative Earth science mission, jointly led by NASA and the French space agency Centre National d'Études Spatiales (CNES), aims to empower communities for a more resilient future through the comprehensive survey of Earth's salt and freshwater bodies. The Surface Water and Ocean Topography (SWOT) mission will precisely measure water heights in oceans, lakes, rivers, and reservoirs.

As the impact of climate change accelerates the global water cycle, numerous communities will face increased flooding risks, while others will grapple with water scarcity. The data gathered by the SWOT mission will play a crucial role in enhancing flood prediction accuracy and monitoring drought conditions. This valuable information will be indispensable for water management agencies, civil engineers, universities, the U.S. Department of Defense, disaster preparedness organizations, and other stakeholders responsible for local water tracking. In the accompanying video, representatives from diverse backgrounds, such as the National Weather Service in Oregon, engineers from the Alaska Department of Transportation, researchers from the University of Oregon and University of North Carolina, scientists from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory working with the Department of Defense, and experts collaborating with the Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Agency, illustrate how SWOT data will be harnessed to benefit these communities:

- At the 0:30 mark: Insights from SWOT aid in Flood Watches & Warnings for Portland, Oregon.
- At 1:08: SWOT contributes to effective Water Management at Fern Ridge Lake, Oregon.
- At 2:05: The mission assists in Protecting Infrastructure in Alaska.
- At 2:54: SWOT's data has implications for National Security via collaboration with the Department of Defense.
- At 3:24: Coastal Protection strategies are bolstered in the Mississippi River Delta.

Anticipated to take off from Vandenberg Space in California, SWOT is scheduled for launch in December 2022.