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How a pair of satellites will 'weigh' water on Earth
From phys.org:
...
When the lead satellite passes over a mountain, it will get slightly farther from its twin for a few instants because of the extra mass in this area and a slightly stronger pull of gravity.
These slight variations in distance will be constantly recorded by the spacecraft, because each shift signals a change in mass on the planet underneath.
The satellites use a monthly reference point, because unless there is an earthquake or other unusual event, only water has the capacity to change that fast.
...
When ice melts, the oceans' mass rises. When it rains a lot in a certain region, the volume of the aquifers mounts. The satellites will pick this up, and the data will show that the mass in a certain area was higher than it was in the prior month, or year.
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