SWOT Satellite

Full form: Surface Water and Ocean Topography
Category: Space Technology / Geography / Water Resources

  • SWOT is a joint satellite mission led by NASA and France's CNES, with contributions from Canada and the UK.

  • Launched on 16 December 2022.

  • It is an Earth-observation satellite.

  • Main objective: measure the height and extent of Earth's surface water.

  • It observes:

    • Oceans

    • Lakes

    • Rivers

    • Reservoirs

    • Wetlands

  • It provides information useful for:

    • Flood forecasting

    • Freshwater management

    • River discharge studies

    • Ocean circulation

    • Climate studies.

  • It uses advanced wide-swath radar interferometry and a nadir altimeter.

Prelims fact: SWOT → Surface Water and Ocean Topography → NASA + CNES.