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Jet Propulsion Laboratory
California Institute of Technology
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Earth's gravity from space
Earth's gravity from space
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Between 2002 and 2016, Antarctica shed approximately 125 gigatons of ice per year, causing global sea level to rise by 0.35 millimeters per year.
Antarctic Ice Loss 2002-2016
GRACE logo
GRACE logo
Research based on GRACE observations indicates that between 2002 and 2016, Greenland shed approximately 280 gigatons of ice per year.
Greenland Ice Loss 2002-2016
GRACE satellites are mounted belly to belly at an IABG testing facility in Germany.
GRACE Satellites at IABG
The GRACE satellites during component integration in a German clean room.
GRACE Component Integration
The amount of water stored in the Amazon basin varies from month to month, and can be monitored from space by looking at how it alters Earth's gravity field.
Measuring Water Storage in the Amazon
This animation illustrates the highs and lows of the Earth's gravity field as water in the basins of the U.S. changes over time.
GRACE data over the United States, 2003-2012
These images show the changes in gravity anomalies from GRACE over the Amazon Basin for each month of 2004.
Amazon Basin seasonal hydrology
Twin GRACE spacecraft being deployed from Breeze
Twin GRACE spacecraft being deployed from Breeze
This animation shows the annual water storage changes over the U.S. from GRACE from 2003 - 2013.
Annual water storage changes over the U.S. From GRACE
One of the twin GRACE satellites, Flight Model 1, is seen on a trolley during construction in Germany.
GRACE Satellite Under Construction
One of the GRACE satellites undergoes thermal testing at IABG in Germany.
Thermal Testing for GRACE Satellite
GRACE being readied for launch - 2
GRACE being readied for launch - 2
The force of gravity not only keeps us from floating away, it also lets NASA study Earth’s water and ice from space. Using a pair of twin satellites named "GRACE," we can monitor our planet’s water.
Scale in the Sky
The twin GRACE satellites are seen in a clean room in Germany in 2002.
GRACE Satellites in Clean Room
The GRACE satellites are seen at an IABG testing facility in Germany.
GRACE Satellite Testing
GRACE being readied for launch - 1
GRACE being readied for launch - 1
The GRACE Intermediate Field 48 (GIF48 from UT-CSR) field model is an improved mean gravity field that combines GRACE observations with terrestrial and ocean gravity information for the small-scale...
Static gravity field - anomalies (1)
GRACE on orbit - 1
GRACE on orbit - 1
This visualization of a gravity model was created with data from NASA's Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) and shows variations in Earth’s gravity field.
GRACE global gravity animation
NASAs Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) has measured significant groundwater depletion around the world in recent years. These animations show trends in total water storage from Jan....
GRACE Sees Groundwater Losses Around the World
GRACE mission pre-launch poster
GRACE mission pre-launch poster
The original GRACE satellites in a clean room in Germany.
GRACE Satellites Under Construction
One of the twin GRACE spacecraft is seen during construction in Germany.
GRACE Satellite Build
Measuring Earth's Gravity from Space exhibit
Measuring Earth's Gravity from Space exhibit
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