NASA's SWOT Satellite Reveals Depth of Death Valley's Ephemeral Lake
Utilizing advanced technology, NASA has calculated the varying depths of a temporary lake in Death Valley, showcasing the capabilities of the SWOT satellite.
- NASA's SWOT satellite tracked the depth of Death Valley's temporary lake, which fluctuated between about 3 feet and less than 1.5 feet during early 2024.
- The ephemeral lake, known as Lake Manly, was significantly influenced by a series of storms that brought record rainfall to California.
- The SWOT satellite, a collaboration between the U.S. and France, launched in December 2022, provides detailed data on water bodies worldwide.
- Researchers utilized SWOT data combined with USGS land elevation info to measure the lake's depth, highlighting its temporary and shallow nature.
- The study demonstrates SWOT's unique ability to fill data gaps in regions like Death Valley, where traditional monitoring is not feasible.
Newsweek 
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