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Cryospheric Sciences
Operational

Snow Water Equivalent SAR and Radiometer (SWESARR)

The Snow Water Equivalent Synthetic Aperture Radar and Radiometer (SWESARR) is a new instrument designed to measure the water content in a snowpack. The instrument, developed at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, uses active and passive microwave sensors to map the radio frequency emissions of the snowpack, which can then be turned into a measurement of snow water equivalent.

Launch Date

November 2018

Class

Instrument

Websites


Key Staff
  • Principal Investigator

The Snow Water Equivalent Synthetic Aperture Radar and Radiometer (SWESARR) is a new instrument designed to measure the water content in a snowpack. The instrument, developed at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, uses active and passive microwave sensors to map the radio frequency emissions of the snowpack, which can then be turned into a measurement of snow water equivalent.

Related Publications

2025. "Satellite Radar Advances Could Transform Global Snow Monitoring.", Eos, 106 [10.1029/2025eo250476] [Journal Article/Letter]

2025. "What's Next for Snow: Insights From the NASA Terrestrial Hydrology Program Community Snow Meeting.", Earth's Future, 13 (12): e2025EF006460 [10.1029/2025ef006460] [Journal Article/Letter]