SWOT Satellite Spots Large-Scale River Waves for First Time

In a first, researchers from NASA and Virginia Tech used SWOT satellite data to measure the height and speed of potentially hazardous flood waves traveling down U.S. rivers.

• The The SWOT (Surface Water and Ocean Topography) satellite was jointly developed by NASA and CNES, with contributions from the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) and the UK Space Agency.

Key Highlights

• The three waves they tracked were likely caused by extreme rainfall and by a loosened ice jam.

• While there is currently no database that compiles satellite data on river flood waves, the new study highlights the potential of space-based observations to aid hydrologists and engineers, especially those working in communities along river networks with limited flood control structures such as levees and flood gates.

• Unlike ocean waves, which are ordinarily driven by wind and tides, and roll to shore at a steady clip, river waves (also called flood or flow waves) are temporary surges stretching tens to hundreds of miles. Typically caused by rainfall or seasonal snowmelt, they are essential to shuttling nutrients and organisms down a river. But they can also pose hazards: Extreme river waves triggered by a prolonged downpour or dam break can produce floods.

(Source: NASA)