WORLD NEWS | NASA launches international mission to investigate Earth’s water

washington [US]Dec. 17 (ANI): NASA on Friday launched its latest Earth science satellite to track nearly all of the water on Earth’s surface.

“A satellite built for NASA and the French space agency CNES to observe nearly all of the water on our planet’s surface lifted off at 3:46 a.m. Friday on its way to low-Earth orbit,” U.S. the space agency said in a statement.

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The Surface Water and Ocean Topography (SWOT) spacecraft was launched on a SpaceX rocket from Spaceport 4E at Space Force Base Vandenberg, California, on a three-year primary mission.

The satellite will measure water levels in more than 90 percent of the Earth’s surface, freshwater bodies and oceans, according to a NASA statement. This information will provide insight into how oceans are affecting climate change; how a warming world is affecting lakes, rivers and reservoirs; and how communities can better respond to hazards such as floods.

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After SWOT separated from the second stage of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, ground controllers successfully acquired a satellite signal. Preliminary telemetry reports indicate the spacecraft is in good condition. SWOT will now go through a series of checks and calibrations before starting to collect scientific data in about six months.

“Warmer oceans, extreme weather, worse wildfires—these are just some of the consequences humanity faces as a result of climate change,” said NASA Administrator Bill Nelson. “The climate crisis requires a holistic approach, and SWOT is the realization of long-term international partnerships that will ultimately better equip communities to meet these challenges.”

According to NASA, SWOT will cover the entire Earth’s surface between latitudes 78 degrees south and 78 degrees north at least once every 21 days, sending back about 1 terabyte of raw data per day.

“At the scientific heart of the spacecraft is an innovative instrument called the Ka-band Radar Interferometer (KaRIn), which represents a major technological advance. The KaRIn bounces radar pulses off the water’s surface and receives them using two antennas located on either side of the water’s surface. return signal spacecraft,” the space agency added.

Karen St. Germain, director of NASA’s Earth Science Division, who is eager to see SWOT in action. “This satellite exemplifies how we can improve life on Earth through technological innovation. The data that innovation will provide is critical to a better understanding of how Earth’s air, water and ecosystems interact and how people thrive on our changing planet.” Crucial.”

One of the many benefits that a SWOT mission will provide is a clearer picture of Earth’s fresh water bodies. It will provide data on more than 95 percent of the world’s lakes larger than 15 acres (62,500 square meters) and rivers wider than 330 feet (100 meters). Freshwater researchers currently have reliable measurements of only a few thousand lakes worldwide.

The NASA statement said that SWOT would push that number into the millions.

In coastal areas, SWOT will provide information on sea level, filling observational gaps in areas without tide gauges or other instruments to measure sea surface height. Over time, the data could help researchers better track sea level rise, which will directly affect communities and coastal ecosystems.

“This mission marks the continuation of a 30-year collaboration between NASA and CNES in altimetry,” said Caroline Laurent, director of orbital systems and applications at CNES. “It demonstrates how international cooperation can be achieved through a breakthrough mission that will help us better understand climate change and its global impact.”

According to NASA, SWOT measurements will also help researchers, policy makers, and resource managers better assess and plan for events, including floods and droughts. By providing information about where the water is — where it comes from and where it goes — researchers can improve flood predictions for rivers and monitor the impact of drought on lakes and reservoirs. (Arnie)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from a Syndicated News feed, the content body may not have been modified or edited by LatestLY staff)