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NASA set to launch first global water survey satellite
GS Paper-3, Science and Technology
Why in the News
In News
- Recently, the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched with the Surface Water and Ocean Topography (SWOT) spacecraft.
About SWOT Satellite
- SWOT will cover the entire Earth’s surface between 78 degrees south and 78 degrees north latitude at least once every 21 days, sending back about one terabyte of unprocessed data per day.
- The satellite will measure the height of water in freshwater bodies and the ocean on more than 90% of Earth’s surface.
Significance
- It will help researchers, policymakers, and resource managers better assess and plan for things, including floods and droughts.
- It will provide insights into how the ocean influences climate change; how a warming world affects lakes, rivers, and reservoirs; and how communities can better prepare for disasters, such as floods.
It aims to provide scientists with a deeper understanding of the water covering the planet and how climate change affects the oceans and life on Earth.
