SWOT Satellite: A New Tool for Fluvial Geomorphology

Earth-observing satellites have revolutionized the field of fluvial geomorphology by providing large-scale and spatially contiguous observations. The recently launched Surface Water and Ocean Topography (SWOT) satellite’s novel interferometric synthetic aperture radar (inSAR) instrument delivers global measurements of several key geomorphic parameters, such as river surface water elevation, slope, and width, and thus presents the opportunity to study fluvial processes in new ways. Here we explore the utility of the SWOT satellite for advancing understanding of fluvial geomorphology across river systems in the United States, specifically focusing on water surface elevation variations in large braided rivers, temporally dynamic shear stress in bedrock rivers, and the processes associated with knickpoints and dam failures. We also discuss other relevant potential applications of SWOT satellite data related to fluvial geomorphology beyond the scope of these early explorations. By providing global multitemporal observations of several key variables in fluvial geomorphology, SWOT represents a major advance in our ability to quantify, monitor, and understand fluvial systems and their dynamics.