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NASA satellite can monitor most of world’s irrigation canals, study finds

Researchers analyzed data from the Surface Water and Ocean Topography (SWOT) satellite, which was designed to track large bodies of water. They found that the satellite could measure water levels with moderate to high confidence at over 85% of canal locations in Asia. This discovery could give farmers around the world a powerful new to...

SourceUniversity of Washington·JournalGeophysical Research Letters·DateSep 30, 2026

Antarctica has lost 10 times the size of Greater Los Angeles in ice over 30 years

A 30-year study reveals 77% of Antarctica's coastline remains stable, but vulnerable sectors lose 5,000 sq mi of ice equivalent to 10 cities the size of LA every three years. Researchers use satellite data to measure glaciers and grounding lines, providing crucial benchmarks for ice sheet models and mass balance assessments.

SourceUniversity of California - Irvine·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeObservational study·DateMar 2, 2026

Breakthrough in development of reliable satellite-based positioning for dense urban areas

Researchers have developed a GNSS-only method that consistently outperforms existing methods in dense urban areas, enabling safer and more reliable autonomous navigation. The approach uses a probabilistic framework to estimate position without relying on carrier-phase integer ambiguity resolution.

SourceMeijo University·JournalIEEE Robotics and Automation Letters·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateJan 22, 2026

Ocean anomalies traveling North crucial for the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation

Researchers found that ocean anomalies traveling northward affect the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation in the Nordic Seas, controlling its strength. The study suggests that these anomalies can be monitored using satellite data, providing a cost-effective way to track climate changes.

SourceStockholm University·JournalCommunications Earth & Environment·TypeObservational study·DateAug 11, 2025

Wind-wave map of East China Sea comes out

Researchers created wind-wave maps of East China Sea using satellite altimeter data and atmospheric reanalysis. The study reveals wind-wave climate patterns, including the similarity among multiple data sources, but also highlights limitations in describing marginal-sea wind-waves.