We are excited to announce that BWI’s space systems engineer, Annie Puchot, and hydrologist, Anil Khanal, had the honor of attending the 30 Years of Radar Altimetry Symposium last week. The event took place from September 2nd to 7th, 2024, in Montpellier, France, and featured a series of side events throughout the week that enriched the symposium experience.
We are thrilled to share that BWI‘s space systems engineer, Annie Puchot, and hydrologist, Anil Khanal, had the privilege of attending the prestigious “30 Years of Progress in Radar Altimetry” Symposium. The symposium was organized by the European Space Agency (ESA) in collaboration with the French Space Agency (CNES). Moreover, this exceptional event took place in Montpellier, France, from September 2nd to 7th, 2024. The symposium celebrated three decades of groundbreaking advancements in radar altimetry technology and its profound impact on Earth observation and climate monitoring.
This blog post provides a brief introduction to the symposium, highlighting the key themes and significance of the event. BWI was particularly excited to attend because of our long-standing interest in radar altimetry’s applications in hydrology and how satellites can improve our knowledge of the water cycle. The week was enriched by a series of side events, offering a dynamic environment for learning, collaboration, and discussions about the future of this critical technology.
Radar altimetry plays a crucial role in the Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS). Furthermore, it has been the main global data source for advancing Earth System Science and developing operational oceanography and hydrology over the past 30 years. It supports numerous societal needs, such as climate monitoring and weather forecasting. In addition, it has applications in various socio-economic sectors, including agriculture, healthcare, energy, freshwater resources, and maritime safety. The symposium contributors were invited to submit abstracts detailing the progress and outcomes of their work over the past five years using the 30 years of multi-mission altimetry data. The week-long event was then organized around key papers, featuring presentations of researchers on the evolution of radar altimetry and its contributions across various domains, such as:
Radar altimetry is revolutionizing the way we monitor continental water bodies, providing critical data for sustainable water resource management worldwide. This technology is key in tracking the fluctuations of surface water levels in lakes, rivers, and wetlands, which are vital for managing water resources under the pressures of climate change and increasing water demand.
BWI is dedicated to transforming surface water management through innovative solutions that promote sustainability and resilience. By attending the symposium, BWI aimed to explore the latest advancements in radar altimetry, particularly in the monitoring of inland water bodies. These insights will help BWI refine its strategies for leveraging altimetry data to enhance water resource management globally, driving more sustainable and adaptive water systems. BWI’s participation also underscores its commitment to integrating cutting-edge space technology into actionable hydrologic solutions that can address critical socio-economic and environmental challenges.
BWI would like to extend its heartfelt thanks to everyone they had the opportunity to speak with during the “30 Years of Radar Altimetry” Symposium. The insights and discussions were invaluable, and we appreciate the chance to engage with so many brilliant minds in the field.
A special thanks to the European Space Agency, the French Space Agency , and all the organizers for hosting such an exceptional event. Your efforts in bringing together experts to celebrate 30 years of progress in radar altimetry were truly remarkable.
