They are based on terrestrial water storage observations derived from grace fo satellite data and integrated with other observations using a sophisticated numerical model of land surface water and energy processes.
Grace satellite data.
Scientists at nasa s goddard space flight center generate groundwater and soil moisture drought indicators each week.
The grace twin satellites launched 17 march 2002 are making detailed measurements of earth s gravity field changes revolutionizing investigations about earth s water reservoirs over land ice oceans as well as earthquakes and crustal deformations.
The satellites use a precise microwave ranging system to measure the distance between themselves due to gravitational acceleration.
Data from the grace satellites is an important tool for studying earth s ocean geology and climate.
Grace grace fo satellite data track ice loss at the poles during the exceptionally warm arctic summer of 2019 greenland lost 600 billion tons of ice enough to raise global sea levels by nearly a tenth of an inch 2 2 millimeters in just two months a new study shows.
Grace fo provides regular at least monthly updates of surface mass anomalies.
The grace project was promoted by the space agency of the german research center for aeronautics and space dlr with funding of the german federal ministry of economics and technology bmwi based on a resolution of the german bundestag with support code 50 ee 1027.
Grace ground segment operations were co funded by esa.
Grace grace fo satellite data track ice loss at the poles greenland s steenstrup glacier with the midmorning sun glinting off the denmark strait in the background.
The image was taken during a nasa icebridge airborne survey of the region in 2016.
Onboard gps instruments determine the exact position of the satellites over the earth.
Grace twin satellites launched in march 2002 are making detailed measurements of earth s gravity field which will lead to discoveries about gravity and earth s natural systems.
The gravity recovery and climate experiment grace mission has demonstrated the ability to synoptically monitor the temporal and spatial variations in total water content over continental areas providing a key measurement which can improve our knowledge and understanding of the water cycle.
Grace fo is a partnership between nasa and the german research centre for geosciences gfz.
Grace was a collaborative endeavor involving the center for space research at the university of texas at austin nasa s jet propulsion laboratory the german aerospace center and germany s national research center for geosciences potsdam.