By Jack Lee, San Francisco Chronicle, December 14, 2022
“High-definition details will come courtesy of the Surface Water and Ocean Topography (SWOT) satellite, scheduled to launch on Thursday, Dec. 15, from Vandenberg Space Force Base in Santa Barbara County.
“The satellite will provide the first truly global view of the planet’s water, surveying over 90 percent of Earth’s surface. This information will allow researchers to investigate a smorgasbord of science questions, from the impact of rising sea levels on coastal communities to how water moves through the water cycle.
“The mission will also be able to provide information about rising sea levels much closer to the coastline than existing satellites, which can only provide measurements miles away from the coast. The new data will inform scientists how sea level rise is impacting coastal locales, including those in the Bay Area.
“The satellite will give fresh insights into water on land as well, such as rivers, lakes and reservoirs, giving researchers a much better understanding of freshwater supplies on the Earth’s surface.”
Read the full article here. (~3 min.)