Work

The Potential for Leveraging SWOT‐Mapped Uneven Water Surface Elevations to Enhance ICESat‐2–Derived Lake Levels

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Satellite altimetry is advantageous for measuring water surface elevations (WSE) globally. However, biases of time series can be caused by uneven water surfaces, as nadir pointing measurements are often collected at different locations across a lake. This study demonstrates how two‐dimensional WSE difference maps derived from the SWOT mission can enhance ICESat‐2 WSE time series. First, the SWOT‐derived WSE difference maps showed strong agreement with in situ data over Lake Erie ( R 2 = 0.79). For Lake Powell, this method improves the R 2 of the ICESat‐2 time series from 0.62 to 0.89. Furthermore, spatial variability in water surface, as estimated using SWOT data, accounts for 44% and 16% of the uncertainty in median WSE fluctuations in global lakes and reservoirs, respectively. By analyzing 81,133 lakes worldwide, this study identifies hotspots of bias and offers an advantage for integrating multi‐satellite altimetry data, facilitating more accurate and long‐term hydrological monitoring across diverse global landscapes.

Source: Geophysical Research Letters

DOI: 10.1029/2025gl119771

Authors: Chi Hsiang Huang, Huilin Gao

Institution: Texas A&M University

Language: English

Topic: Geophysics and Gravity Measurements

Subfield: Oceanography

Field: Earth and Planetary Sciences

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDGs: Climate action, Clean water and sanitation

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,190