dataset · Global
Terrestrial water storage anomaly data from 2002 to present derived from satellite gravimetry observations
This dataset provides global Terrestrial Water Storage Anomalies (TWSA) on a 0.5° regular grid. TWSA represent deviations from the long-term average of water stored on or below the Earth’s surface in the form of soil moisture, groundwater, surface water, snow and ice. Designated as an Essential Climate Variable (ECV) as defined by the Global Climate Observing System (GCOS), TWSA is considered essential for contributing to a comprehensive view of Earth’s climate, its variability, and trends. This
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Licence: CC-BY-4.0
Evidence quality: 34.9
Listed in cds public catalogue API on 2026-10-16; relevance/value screened (haiku).
Metadata checked: 2026-10-14T13:20:00.000Z
What's in it
- Data offered docs-verified
- Terrestrial water storage anomalies (TWSA), mm equivalent water height · TWSA standard deviation (uncertainty) · Filter-strength flag
- Coverage docs-verified
- Global · April 2002 to September 2025
- Resolution docs-verified
- 0.5° x 0.5° horizontal; monthly temporal
- Update frequency docs-verified
- Every 6 months; one at the start of the year and another midway
- Formats docs-verified
- NetCDF-4
- Access docs-verified
- CC-BY licence (CC-BY-4.0 per entry metadata); no authentication listed in entry metadata
Useful for
- Use cases llm-inferred
- Regional drought and flood frequency context for FRA or water resources baselines · Long-term groundwater and soil-moisture storage trend context for catchment water balance checks · Regional hydrological background for large-area modelling boundary conditions
- Audience llm-inferred
- hydrologists · water resources engineers · climate risk consultants · GIS analysts
Limitations
- Constraints llm-inferred
- Monthly record has temporal gaps in 2002-2018 (listed in docs) · Ends September 2025 per docs, although entry description says 'to present' · 0.5° grid is coarse for catchment-scale work · Versions change with each Climate Data Record release; ICDR updates every 6 months · Global dataset; no UK-specific resolution or validation stated in docs
Evidence
- https://cds.climate.copernicus.eu/api/catalogue/v1/collections/satellite-terrestrial-water-storage
- https://cds.climate.copernicus.eu/datasets/satellite-terrestrial-water-storage
Check upstream coverage, uncertainty and licence before use. Station observations are not forecasts or design levels.