By The newspaper
Nov 30, 2023, 10:01 PM EST
In the latest collaboration between the US space agency, NASA and the technology giant, Google, they show the complexities of the Earth’s water cycle with “A Passage of Water”.
This interactive digital experience, which will be released just before the start of COP 28, promises to be a game-changer for understanding the profound impact of climate change on our planet, according to NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
The visionary collaboration of NASA and Google
For decades, NASA has been at the forefront of Earth science research, collecting invaluable data about our planet’s land, water, air and climate. Now, in collaboration with Google Arts & Culture and artist Yiyun Kang, NASA is ready to launch a unique visualization project that leverages data from the GRACE satellites and the SWOT mission.
At the core of “A Passage of Water” is data from the Surface Water and Ocean Topography (SWOT) mission, a joint effort by NASA and the French space agency CNES, which provides an unprecedented view of bodies of water. sweetness of the Earth and offers information on how climate change influences oceans, lakes, rivers and reservoirs.
“The details it provides about the world’s oceans and freshwater are game-changers. For data from this satellite, we’re just getting started,” says Ben Hamlington, a research scientist at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
A symphony of satellite data
The project also integrates data from the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) and GRACE Follow-On missions. These missions tracked changes in Earth’s mass distribution from 2002 to the present, monitoring changes in ice sheets, groundwater storage, and more.
Karen St. Germain, director of NASA’s Earth Sciences Division, emphasizes the importance of making data and other NASA Earth science data publicly available.
“’A Passage of Water’ provides an opportunity to highlight the public availability of SWOT data and other NASA Earth science data to tell meaningful stories,” says Germain.
A digital experience with real-world impact
The collaboration between NASA and Google extends beyond the digital realm. In addition to the online launch of “A Passage of Water,” a physical installation will adorn the Blue Zone at COP 28 in Dubai.
This combination of digital innovation and real-world engagement underscores the commitment to raising awareness of the critical connection between climate change and Earth’s water cycle.
“A Passage of Water” is not an isolated undertaking, but part of a broader collaboration between NASA and Google under the Space Act Agreement. This collaboration aims to make NASA content accessible to the public through engaging digital experiences.
The launch of this immersive project marks a significant step in fulfilling this mission, providing an educational and visually stunning tool to understand the complexities of our planet’s ecosystems.
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