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NASA's SWOT Satellite Reveals Secrets of Earth's Seafloor

10/22/2025

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Summary

Story summary

The Surface Water and Ocean Topography (SWOT) satellite, a NASA and CNES collaboration, produced detailed maps of Earth's deep seafloor using centimeter-level sea surface height measurements.
The maps reveal abyssal hills and seamounts, which improve understanding of geological processes and aid navigation.
The higher resolution lets scientists track seafloor spreading and refine models of ocean dynamics, supporting climate simulations and infrastructure planning.

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Story summary

The Surface Water and Ocean Topography (SWOT) satellite, a NASA and CNES collaboration, produced detailed maps of Earth's deep seafloor using centimeter-level sea surface height measurements.
The maps reveal abyssal hills and seamounts, which improve understanding of geological processes and aid navigation.
The higher resolution lets scientists track seafloor spreading and refine models of ocean dynamics, supporting climate simulations and infrastructure planning.