A new satellite mission is set to map nearly all water on Earth's surface.

The Surface Water and Ocean Topography mission, a joint effort between NASA and the French space agency, is launching to provide the first comprehensive survey of global surface water. This briefing explores how the satellite's instruments will track vital water resources and inform our understanding of climate change.

The SWOT mission represents a collaborative international effort involving NASA, the Centre National d’Études Spatiales, and additional support from space agencies in Canada and the United Kingdom. By monitoring Earth's water, the mission aims to provide essential data regarding long-term environmental shifts, extreme weather events, and the availability of clean water.

The science team, comprised of global experts in hydrology and oceanography, will use the satellite to gather data that addresses critical climate questions. This information is intended to help researchers better understand how water resources are changing and how these shifts impact populations worldwide.

Source: #TrackingWorldWater: The Science Behind the SWOT Satellite (News Briefing)