To Which Extent the Surface Water Ocean Topography (SWOT) Mission Is Currently Able to Monitor Water Surface Elevation and Extent on the French Lakes?

Earth and Space Science 2026 Open access

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Authors: C. Normandin, F. Frappart, C. Moisy, N. Baghdadi, B. Ygorra, L. Bourrel, P. Maisongrande, D. Leroux, J.‐F. Crétaux, J.-P. Wigneron
DOI: 10.1029/2025ea004655
Cited by: 1
References: 43

Abstract

Abstract This study (July 2023–December 2025) assesses the SWOT satellite's ability to measure water surface elevation (WSE) and surface water extent (SWE) over diverse French lakes. WSE estimates from SWOT were compared to in situ gauge data and conventional radar altimetry, while SWE was evaluated using the Global Water Watch (GWW) database. SWOT shows good agreement with altimetry ( R 2 = 0.56, RMSE = 1.61 m), but performs less well against in situ data for small lakes (

Fields of Study & Subjects

Flood Risk Assessment and Management Aquatic Ecosystems and Phytoplankton Dynamics Oceanographic and Atmospheric Processes

Publication details

Journal / source
Earth and Space Science
Publisher
American Geophysical Union (AGU)
Volume
13
Issue
6
Publication date
1 June 2026
Language
EN