<span>News</span>

Publication: Nonlinear responses from the interaction of internal solitary waves and eddies observed for the first time with SWOT satellite

Internal solitary waves impact physical and biological processes in the upper ocean, as well as human activities with potential impacts on navigation and coastal infrastructures. For the first time, thanks to the SWOT satellite, it was possible to observe their signature in sea surface height. This allowed researchers to study the interactions of internal solitary waves with eddies on the Amazon Shelf, leading to a better understanding of their complex interactions.

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Event: Early Careers’ SWOT LEGOS Days 2026

The next "Early Careers' SWOT LEGOS Days" will take place on April 13-15, 2026 at Observatoire Midi Pyrénées in Toulouse, France. About 30 early career scientists from all over France are expected to participate and present their results ranging from oceanography to hydrology. These discussions will provide feedback on the different SWOT product versions, tools and methodologies, and constitute a valuable source of information for spatial agencies (CNES/NASA) for future products and altimetry mission development.

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Publication: SWOT reveals that fine-scale eddies are as efficient as larger and more energetic structures in modulating turbulence in the ocean interior

Using data collected during SWOT fast-sampling phase, a new study shows that fine-scale eddies (<100 km) in the Northwestern Mediterranean Sea are as efficient as large and intense structures found in western boundary currents and the Antarctic Circumpolar Current system in transferring wind energy into the ocean interior. These findings might apply to the rest of the global ocean characterized by low energy and thus provide a new challenge to parameterize this process in Earth system models.

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Publication: SWOT effectively captures the presence of seiche-like structures in French Polynesia lagoons

Using data collected with the SWOT satellite, a study published on Geophysical Research Letters describes the spatial structure of low amplitude oscillations, known as seiches, in the lagoons of several atolls in the French Polynesia. This ability to detect seiche-like structures in small bodies of water (less than 80 km in length) is unprecedented in satellite altimetry and opens up new avenues of research into these events and their contribution to erosion and flooding in remote locations.

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The new wave of oceanographers: Valentin Bellemin-Laponnaz

Physical oceanographer focusing on the development of reconstruction methods of sea surface height (SSH) from satellite altimetry measurements. 

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Publication: SWOT extends reliable observations of water surface elevation into challenging coastal environments

The validation of SWOT data in the Bristol Channel and Severn Estuary, UK, shows that SWOT efficiently captures coastal hydrodynamics, revealing high accuracy in the measurement of water level across diverse tidal conditions. With appropriate filtering and processing strategies, SWOT data are suitable for many applications of societal relevance.  

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The new wave of SWOT scientists: Felix Girard

Hydrologist focusing on long-term dynamics of lake volumes in West Africa and glacial lakes and glaciers in the Himalaya.

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Publication: SWOT can map the spatial structure of storm surges across diverse oceanic regimes

An original study demonstrates the capability of SWOT to capture the spatial structure of storm surges during severe storms and hurricanes. A major advancement in coastal oceanography, SWOT hasstrong potential to improve scientific understanding, risk assessment, and long‐term coastal resilience.

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The new wave of SWOT scientists: Elisa Friedmann

Computational hydrologist with a focus on river discharge, sediment, and river greenhouse gas contribution.

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Investigating zooplankton at SWOT scales in the NW Mediterranean: a legacy of François Carlotti

The first detailed investigation of zooplankton distribution at fine scales in the North Balearic Front has been published in Biogeosciences. The work was carried out during the BioSWOT-Med cruise under the coordination of François Carlotti. Francois, who passed away earlier this January, has been a pioneer in the study of zooplankton from the polar oceans to the Mediterranean Sea.

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