Relative Wetness Root Zone Versus Groundwater Comparison

  • Released Monday, April 24, 2023
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Sample composite showing the comparison between the root zone relative wetness data to groundwater wetness data. The root zone is approximately 1 meter below the surface as opposed to groundwater which is deeper. Seeing these side-by-side allows the viewer to see that the root zone data changes much more rapidly than the deeper stored groundwater data.

These maps combine data from the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) and GRACE Follow-On (GRACE-FO) with other satellite and ground-based measurements to model the relative amount of water stored at two different depths: plant root level and underground. The brown regions represent dry conditions. The blue regions represent wet areas. All of the maps are experimental products funded by NASA’s Applied Sciences Program and developed by scientists at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center and the National Drought Mitigation Center. The maps do not attempt to represent human consumption of water; but rather, they show changes in water storage related to weather, climate, and seasonal patterns.

Root zone data by itself. The root zone is the area beneath the soil surface where most vegetation roots grow.

Groundwater data by itself. Groundwater is stored far beneath the root zone and therefore changes less frequently.

Date overlay for the above animations.

Colorbar where browns indicate dryer areas and blue wetter.

Colorbar where browns indicate dryer areas and blue wetter.

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This page was originally published on Monday, April 24, 2023.
This page was last updated on Thursday, October 10, 2024 at 12:15 AM EDT.

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