About

SWOT

Conceived as a major new tool for climate studies, the Surface Water and Ocean Topography (SWOT) satellite mission launched December 16th 2022. SWOT sea surface height measurements can help retrieve the dynamics of the upper ocean at an unprecedented O(10km) resolution. SWOT surface maps have a resolution roughly one order of magnitude finer than what was available with conventional satellite altimetry. This improvement in resolution has proving to be groundbreaking for several key ocean questions, including the energy budget, the connection between surface and internal dynamics, biogeochemistry and biodiversity, and the dynamics at the ice margin.

Adopt-A-Crossover (AdAC) Consortium

The best way to exploit SWOT data is in synergy with in situ observations. Endorsed by CLIVAR in 2019, the SWOT Adopt-A-Crossover Consortium was an initiative of the SWOT Science Team that assisted oceanographic in situ experiments relying on SWOT and it assured that SWOT data were interpreted and exploited in the best possible way. The Consortium was led by a Steering Group mostly from the SWOT Science Team but membership was open to anybody (see Apply). The Consortium focused (but was not restricted to) ocean areas where the SWOT ascending and descending tracks cross, providing higher temporal resolution: the crossovers. The revisit frequency at crossovers was maximal (twice per day) during the six months of calibration and validation (CalVal) phase in 2022-2023. Three of these months (Avril-June 2023) were scientifically exploitable. During this phase, the satellite flied on a 1-day-repeat orbit with enhanced temporal resolution (although sacrificing the spatial coverage).

Actions and support of the AdAC Consortium

The AdAC Consortium provided to anybody interested in ocean finescale experiments a direct link with the SWOT Science Team. The Consortium acted as a forum for sharing information on how to interpret future SWOT data and for designing SWOT-compliant experimental protocols. Members of the Consortium also had access to experimental, multisatellite, high resolution products that NASA and CNES have developed for matching the needs of experimental studies at SWOT scales. The Consortium was also the place to discuss and promote conference special sessions, journal special issues, and collaborations on ocean finescale experiments and new technologies. The Consortium did not provide financial support.

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