Root Zone Vs. Groundwater 

This sample composite compares root zone relative wetness data to groundwater wetness data. The root zone is approximately 1 meter below the surface as opposed to groundwater which is deeper. These side-by-side maps show that the root zone data changes much more rapidly than the deeper stored groundwater data. 

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 two different depths: plant root level and underground. The brown regions represent dry conditions. The blue regions represent wet areas. 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; instead, they show changes in water storage related to weather, climate, and seasonal patterns. 


For more information: https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/5098/ 

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