Earth ID: 4415

Terrestrial Water Storage Anomaly 2002 - 2015

Visualizations by Alex Kekesi Released on January 6, 2016

There is a newer version of this story located here: https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/4476

Animation showing Terrestrial Water Storage Anomaly (TWSA) data from 2002 to 2015. Browns indicate areas with less ground water than normal and greens are areas with more ground water than normal, which correlates to droughts and floods in these various regions.
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A pair of experimental twin satellites called the Gravity Recovery And Climate Experiment, or "GRACE", were launched in March 2002. Since then they have been collecting gravity measurements which scientists use to derive Terrestrial Water Storage Anomalies (TWSA). TWSA can then be used as an indicator for drought and flood conditions across the globe. For more information on the GRACE mission please visit http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/Grace/

Colorbar showing Terrestrial Water Storage Anomalies (in centimeters). Browns indicate lower than average ground water saturation, whereas greens represent areas with more ground water than normal.

Newer Version

Visualization Credits

Alex Kekesi (GST): Lead Visualizer
Cindy Starr (GST): Visualizer
Kel Elkins (USRA): Visualizer
Doug C. Morton (NASA/GSFC): Lead Scientist
Yang Chen (University of California, Irvine): Lead Scientist
Jim Randerson (University of California, Irvine): Lead Scientist

Please give credit for this item to:
NASA's Scientific Visualization Studio

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Missions:
Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE)
Fire and Smoke

Data Used:

Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE)/Terrestrial Water Storage Anomaly also referred to as: TWS Anomaly

Analysis - 1/2002 - 9/2015

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Note: While we identify the data sets used in these visualizations, we do not store any further details nor the data sets themselves on our site.

Keywords:
GCMD >> Earth Science >> Terrestrial Hydrosphere
GCMD >> Earth Science >> Climate Indicators >> Terrestrial Hydrosphere Indicators
NASA Science >> Earth
SVS >> Hyperwall
DLESE >> Natural hazards
DLESE >> Ecology

GCMD keywords can be found on the Internet with the following citation: Olsen, L.M., G. Major, K. Shein, J. Scialdone, S. Ritz, T. Stevens, M. Morahan, A. Aleman, R. Vogel, S. Leicester, H. Weir, M. Meaux, S. Grebas, C.Solomon, M. Holland, T. Northcutt, R. A. Restrepo, R. Bilodeau, 2013. NASA/Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Earth Science Keywords. Version 8.0.0.0.0