Government jobs • Exam updates • PreparationIndependent information portal
RojgarRankYOUR NEXT STEP STARTS HERE
Current Affairs

NASA-CNES SWOT Satellite Unveils Detailed Map of Ocean Floor

By Published

The Surface Water and Ocean Topography (SWOT) satellite, a joint mission launched by NASA and France's CNES in December 2022, has created a highly detailed map of the ocean floor. Equipped with the Ka-band Radar Interferometer (KaRIn), SWOT scans 90% of the Earth's surface every 21 days, measuring water surface elevation and mapping ocean topography with unprecedented precision. This advancement enhances understanding of underwater features, ocean currents, floods, and global water distribution, contributing valuable data for climate change research and disaster management.

On this page

Key Facts

  • SWOT stands for Surface Water and Ocean Topography satellite.

  • It is a joint mission between NASA (USA) and CNES (France), launched in December 2022.

  • The satellite is equipped with the Ka-band Radar Interferometer (KaRIn), a radar instrument that measures the height, width, and elevation of surface water bodies by sending microwave signals and analysing their return time.

  • SWOT can scan nearly 90% of the Earth’s surface every 21 days.

  • It can observe nearly all rivers wider than 330 feet (about 100 meters) and over one million lakes and reservoirs larger than five acres.

  • The mission can monitor more than half of global large-scale floods during their lifecycle, aiding disaster management.

Background & Context

Much of the Earth's ocean floor has historically remained unmapped in high detail compared to other planetary bodies like the Moon. The SWOT satellite represents a significant advancement in oceanography and Earth sciences by enabling fine-scale mapping of underwater topography and surface water bodies from space. Using its advanced KaRIn instrument, SWOT provides precise measurements of water surface elevation and dynamics, contributing to a better understanding of ocean currents, floods, and the global water cycle. The joint NASA-CNES collaboration exemplifies international cooperation in space-based Earth observation.

Why This Matters for Exams / Exam Relevance

Understanding the SWOT satellite mission is relevant for exams, especially those covering geography, environmental science, climate change, space technology, and international collaborations. It illustrates advancements in satellite remote sensing technology and its application in monitoring Earth's vital water resources and hazards like floods. SWOT's data contribute to climate models, ecosystem research, and disaster preparedness, aligning with current affairs and science & technology topics frequently tested in competitive exams.

Points to Remember

  • SWOT launched: December 2022

  • Partners: NASA (USA) and CNES (France)

  • Main instrument: Ka-band Radar Interferometer (KaRIn)

  • Coverage: Approximately 90% of Earth's surface every 21 days

  • Observation capabilities include rivers wider than 330 feet and over one million lakes/reservoirs larger than five acres

  • Monitors over 50% of global large-scale floods during their lifecycle

  • Supports climate change research by mapping ocean surface topography and studying ocean currents and eddies

← Back to Current Affairs