Water-Watching Satellite Monitors Warming Ocean off California Coast
Water-Watching Satellite Monitors Warming Ocean off California Coast
Launched on Dec. 16, 2022, from Vandenberg Space Force Base in central California, SWOT is now in its operations phase, collecting data that will be used for research and other purposes. SWOT was jointly developed by NASA and CNES, with contributions from the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) and the UK Space Agency. NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory leads the U.S. component of the project. CNES provided various systems and the satellite platform. CSA provided the KaRIn high-power transmitter assembly. The satellite’s mission is to monitor the warming ocean off the California coast.
Monitoring Ocean Temperature
One of the key goals of the SWOT satellite is to monitor the temperature of the ocean off the California coast. By collecting data on ocean temperature, scientists can better understand the impact of climate change and make informed decisions to protect marine ecosystems.
Collaborative Effort
The development of SWOT was a collaborative effort between NASA, CNES, CSA, and the UK Space Agency. Each agency contributed different components and expertise to the project. This collaboration highlights the importance of international cooperation in advancing scientific research and understanding the Earth’s oceans.
For more information about SWOT, visit https://swot.jpl.nasa.gov.