NASA’s New Satellite Reveals How Small Ocean Waves Move Heat Deep in the Sea

A new NASA satellite has helped scientists make a major discovery about the ocean. The Surface Water and Ocean Topography (SWOT) satellite, launched by NASA and the French space agency CNES, is now giving a much clearer view of the ocean’s surface. It shows that small waves, just one mile wide, play a big role in moving heat and energy through the water. This could change how we understand the Earth’s climate system.

The discovery was made by an international team of scientists and published in April 2025 in the journal Nature. For many years, researchers believed that only large ocean currents, like the Gulf Stream, were responsible for moving heat and carbon. But now, thanks to data from SWOT, they know that small waves also play an important role. These small ocean waves, called submesoscale waves, mix the surface water with deeper water. They move heat, carbon, and nutrients up and down through the layers of the ocean. This movement affects how much heat the ocean stores and how it impacts global temperatures.

The SWOT satellite uses special radar to measure the ocean surface in two dimensions. It can spot ocean features as small as one mile across. That is much more detailed than past satellites, which could only see bigger currents and larger waves. This new level of detail is helping scientists see how energy moves across the planet in ways they could not see before. These small waves are very active and cover wide areas of the ocean. They act like hidden pathways for heat and energy under the sea.

Understanding how heat moves through the ocean is very important for climate science. The ocean takes in more than 90 percent of the extra heat created by global warming. If we know how that heat moves, we can make better predictions about sea level rise, weather changes, and future temperatures. This discovery means that many climate models may need updates. Until now, most models did not include submesoscale waves. That could mean they missed a big part of the heat and carbon movement happening in the ocean.

The study used a mix of SWOT satellite data, ocean sensors, and computer models to confirm the results. Scientists found that these small waves are not just common, but also very powerful. They happen in many parts of the world’s oceans and carry large amounts of heat downward into deeper layers. At the same time, they help bring nutrients from the deep ocean up to the surface, where they support marine life. This up-and-down motion plays a key role in keeping the ocean healthy and stable.

This process also affects how the ocean stores carbon dioxide. The ocean is one of the Earth’s biggest carbon sinks, meaning it pulls carbon out of the air and holds it for long periods. When small waves push carbon deeper into the ocean, it stays there for many years. This helps slow down the effects of climate change. By showing how these waves move carbon and heat, the SWOT satellite is giving scientists a new tool to fight global warming.

The launch of SWOT is a big step forward for ocean science. Before this, researchers had to use ships or fixed instruments to measure small ocean features. Those tools could only look at small areas at one time. SWOT, on the other hand, gives a full picture of the ocean surface almost everywhere on Earth. It sends back detailed maps that help scientists see how waves and currents behave in real time.

The satellite is expected to continue its mission for several more years. During that time, scientists will collect more data and keep learning about how the ocean works. This will help improve weather forecasts, protect marine ecosystems, and guide climate action plans. Researchers from many countries will use SWOT data to study climate change, ocean circulation, and marine biology.

This new information is not only important for scientists. It also matters to governments, fishers, and anyone who depends on the ocean. Knowing how heat and carbon move can help manage fisheries, protect coral reefs, and prepare for extreme weather. It can also help countries plan better for rising sea levels and ocean warming. The more we understand the ocean, the better we can protect it—and ourselves—from the effects of climate change.