SWOT Satellite Catches Coastal Flooding During California Storms

SWOT Satellite Catches Coastal Flooding During California Storms
by Clarence Oxford
Los Angeles CA (SPX) Mar 07, 2024

In the wake of a series of atmospheric rivers that bombarded California with record rainfall and hurricane-force winds in February, the Surface Water and Ocean Topography (SWOT) mission has come under the spotlight for its critical role in capturing detailed data on the resultant coastal flooding. The satellite, a joint venture between NASA and the French space agency CNES, has demonstrated its unique capabilities by mapping flooding near Manchester, California, showcasing significant changes in water levels.

The provided imagery contrasts the region's state before and after the onslaught of the first storm, with variations in water heights depicted in a spectrum of greens and blues. Lighter shades illustrate the highest water levels relative to mean sea level, incorporating both the height of floodwaters and the underlying ground elevation. This nuanced detail underscores the satellite's ability to distinguish between flooding caused by ocean tides and that resulting solely from precipitation, with each pixel representing a 100 meter square area.

Since its initiation in December 2022, the SWOT mission has been dedicated to measuring the height of nearly all water on Earth's surface. Its comprehensive data collection efforts are poised to revolutionize our understanding of the planet's water bodies, extending beyond the capabilities of previous satellite missions. The SWOT satellite not only detects water but also provides crucial data on water levels, which, when integrated with other information, can determine water depth in lakes and rivers.

Ben Hamlington, lead researcher for NASA's sea level change team at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, emphasized the significance of SWOT's contributions to flood monitoring. The satellite's data, enriched with insights from the Ka-band Radar Interferometer (KaRIn), fills a critical gap in our knowledge by offering detailed measurements of water surface heights. With two antennas spanning 10 meters, KaRIn employs radar pulses to map the water surface, producing a dual swath of data that enhances our understanding of water dynamics.

The SWOT mission's groundbreaking technology represents a leap forward in environmental monitoring, providing invaluable data on flooding and other hydrological events. Through its detailed mapping and measurement capabilities, SWOT enables scientists and policymakers to better understand and respond to the challenges posed by extreme weather events, showcasing the power of international collaboration in advancing our knowledge of the Earth's water systems.