California – A high-stakes investigation is underway in California, not to catch a criminal, but to track the elusive journey of snowmelt replenishing vital groundwater reserves . NASA is deploying its cutting-edge technology to solve a critical water puzzle, one that could determine the future of agriculture in one of America’s most productive regions.
A NASA jet, equipped with the highly sensitive Uninhabited Aerial Vehicle Synthetic Aperture Radar (UAVSAR), is conducting a series of flights over a 25-mile stretch of the Tulare Basin. This region, where foothills transition into farmland, is believed to hold the key to understanding how Sierra Nevada snowmelt seeps underground, recharging aquifers that are crucial for the San Joaquin Valley’s agricultural industry.
“NASA’s technology has the potential to give us unprecedented precision in measuring where snowmelt is recharging groundwater,” stated Erin Urquhart, program manager for NASA’s Earth Action Water Resources program. “This information is vital for farmers, water managers, and policymakers trying to make the best possible decisions to protect water supplies for agriculture and communities.”…