Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
5 Conclusions
This paper has reviewed our understanding of global surface water flood dynamics and the
role such waves play in the Earth system. Flood waves are both a key determinant of
globally important biogeochemical and ecological processes and, at particular times and
particular places, a major environmental hazard. Despite this, the current global observing
system cannot capture the detail of surface flows in rivers, floodplains and wetlands, and
we lack a comprehensive and consistent view of global surface water dynamics at a scale
commensurate with known process variability. The paper demonstrates that by careful use
of the data obtained from remote sensing instruments designed for different geophysical
applications, progress can be made in our understanding of the surface water dynamics of a
number of major floodplain and wetland systems. Ultimately, however, a detailed under-
standing would only be possible with the launch of a dedicated satellite mission for surface
water carrying an instrument capable of capturing data of the right resolution and accuracy.
The proposed SWOT satellite mission would have the potential to address this need and
help answer new and exciting science questions that would be likely to revolutionize our
view of hydrology.
Acknowledgments Part of this research was carried out at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California
Institute of Technology, under a contract with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
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