Global sea surface height by the Surface Water and Ocean Topography (SWOT) mission – the first 21-day cycle
The SWOT (Surface Water and Ocean Topography) mission employs a Ka-band radar interferometer to precisely map the elevation of global water bodies, encompassing rivers, lakes, and the ocean's surface. This animation illustrates the variation in sea surface height anomalies detailed on a fine 2 km resolution grid. Notice the striking isolated peaks (in red) and troughs (in blue), which signal the presence of ocean eddies, while the varying gradients mark the intensity of ocean currents. For the first time, we can observe sea surface heights with complete global coverage (78S-78N) and exceptionally high resolution, extending all the way to coastal regions.
More details, including additional download options, available from NASA’s Scientific Visualization Studio.
