Looking after water in Africa - ESA's TIGER initiative meets the challenges posed at the Johannesburg summit

Details Looking after water in Africa - ESA's TIGER initiative meets the challenges posed at the Johannesburg summit Looking after water in Africa - ESA's TIGER initiative meets the challenges posed at the Johannesburg summit

Feb 2004

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2004esabu.117...28a&link_type=abstract

ESA Bulletin (ISSN 0376-4265), No. 117, p. 28 - 35 (2004)

Physics

Space Missions: Earth, Water

Scientific paper

Water resources, the 'blue gold' of the 21st century, can be successfully monitored from space using Earth-observation technology. Satellites can measure precipitation, atmospheric water content, soil moisture, surface run-off, lake and river levels, groundwater reservoirs, as well as ice and snow cover. Improved sensors, better modelling and a deeper understanding of the underlying science have substantially advanced our knowledge of the global water cycle in recent years. However, there are still major shortcomings in both the understanding and the observation of key parameters. The estimation of groundwater resources, for example, poses a major challenge, as they are not directly visible from space. Indirect methods based on gravity-field measurements, radar interferometery and altimetric monitoring of rivers need to be applied to gain knowledge of reservoir volumes and flows. In order to improve our capabilities and to offer this technology to people in developing countries, ESA has launched a new programme focusing on the use of space technology for water-resource management in Africa. The initiative, called 'TIGER', is a direct follow-up of ESA's strong engagement in the 2002 Johannesburg World Summit on Sustainable Development, and implements its recommendations through concrete actions.

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