SWOT

SWOT: monitoring water surface elevation from space
The Surface Water and Ocean Topography (SWOT) satellite mission is designed specifically to measure water surface elevation. The satellite produces data over both oceans and continental water bodies, including over ice-covered regions such as Antarctica.
Floods
floods in the Coongie Lakes wetland, central Australia, in a) 2024 and b) 2025. Callaway et al., 2026.

 

With a pixel spatial resolution from 20-70 m, SWOT is a new, unique tool for monitoring water on planet Earth.

Research projects using SWOT data include:

  • determining flood volumes across the Australian continent
  • monitoring overland flows after heavy rain events
  • quantifying flood and environmental flows into wetland ecosystems

 

Students will learn how to proces and analyse remote sensing data as well as how to apply the derived knowledge of water extent and volume to the understanding and management of wetlands and groundwater dependent ecosystems.

 

Publications

  • Dodd, L. and P. Tregoning, Extreme floods: Devastating or valuable?, npj Natural Hazards, under review 22 June, 2026.
  • Callaway, M., M. Taib, P. Tregoning, C. Gouramanis and L. Dodd, SWOT reveals flood depths and environmental flows in wetlands, Communications Earth and Environment, accepted in principle 5 June 2026.