Earth  ID: 31176

Two Decades of Soil Moisture from Space

These maps combine data from the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) and GRACE Follow-On (GRACE-FO) with other satellite and ground-based measurements to model the relative amount of water stored at three different depths: at the surface, at plant root level and underground. The wetness, or water content, of each layer is compared to the average between 1948 and 2012. The darkest red regions represent dry conditions that should occur only 2 percent of the time (about once every 50 years). All of the maps are experimental products funded by NASA’s Applied Sciences Program and developed by scientists at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center and the National Drought Mitigation Center. The maps do not attempt to represent human consumption of water; but rather, they show changes in water storage related to weather, climate, and seasonal patterns.
 

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https://nasagrace.unl.edu/


Credits

Matthew Rodell (NASA/GSFC): Scientist
Marit Jentoft-Nilsen: Animator
Please give credit for this item to:
NASA

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https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/31176

Missions:
Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE)
Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment Follow-on (GRACE-FO)

Keywords:
SVS >> HDTV
DLESE >> Hydrology
GCMD >> Earth Science >> Hydrosphere >> Ground Water
SVS >> Hyperwall
NASA Science >> Earth
GCMD >> Earth Science >> Human Dimensions >> Natural Hazards >> Droughts

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