NASA Satellite Data Reveals Hidden Ocean Dynamics to Unlock Climate Change Mysteries
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Scientist Spencer Jones uses machine learning to analyze data from NASA's Surface Water and Ocean Topography (SWOT) satellite to study ocean dynamics like currents and climate change.
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The SWOT satellite captures sea surface height data with unprecedented precision. Jones' model can identify areas of vertical transport in the ocean by filtering out the impact of waves.
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Understanding vertical transport of water and substances like oxygen and carbon dioxide from the surface to deeper layers is key to studying marine life and climate change mitigation strategies.
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Jones is validating recent SWOT measurements and plans to make the data public. The goal is to study water movement down to 150 meters deep.
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Jones believes gaining insights into ocean vertical transport will significantly contribute to understanding Earth's climate by showing the ocean's capacity to absorb heat and greenhouse gases.