On May 18, 2025, NASA announced that its Surface Water and Ocean Topography (SWOT) satellite has collected high-resolution data revealing the important influence of small-scale ocean currents and waves on Earth’s climate system. These currents and waves, which were previously too subtle to detect with earlier technology, have now been shown to contribute to the regulation of global climate by affecting the distribution of heat and carbon dioxide in the oceans. The SWOT mission is a collaborative effort between NASA and the French space agency CNES, aiming to provide detailed measurements of surface water and ocean topography worldwide. According to scientists involved in the project, the new data could significantly improve the accuracy of climate models and predictions by incorporating the effects of these small-scale ocean processes. The findings were published in a recent scientific report, and researchers believe that understanding these dynamics is essential for predicting future changes in climate and for managing marine ecosystems more effectively.