What To Know
- The result of a collaboration between the European and Japanese space agencies, this spacecraft’s mission is to study clouds and assess their impact on the Earth’s climate.
- Launched on May 29, 2024 by SpaceX, the craft has reached its orbit (polar sun-synchronous) and is now 390 km from EarthThe objective of this satellite is to obtain information to study the Earth’s radiation balanceIn other words, this will aim to determine the vertical profiles of clouds and aerosols, but also to measure the energy luminance.
- We have the Cloud Profiling Radar (CPR), a radar which aims to provide a vertical profile of cloud dimensions and a evaluation of the vertical velocity of particles in the clouds using Doppler measurements.
Recently, the EarthCARE satellite was launched into orbit by SpaceX. The result of a collaboration between the European and Japanese space agencies, this spacecraft’s mission is to study clouds and assess their impact on the Earth’s climate.
Studying the Earth’s radiation balance
The EarthCARE satellite, which weighs about 2.3 tonnes, was designed by the European Space Agency (ESA) in collaboration with the Japanese Space Agency (JAXA). However, this mission is not insignificant, because it is one of the most ambitious earth observation projects of ESA. Launched on May 29, 2024 by SpaceX, the craft has reached its orbit (polar sun-synchronous) and is now 390 km from EarthThe objective of this satellite is to obtain information to study the Earth’s radiation balanceIn other words, this will aim to determine the vertical profiles of clouds and aerosols, but also to measure the energy luminance. in the upper layer of the atmosphereThis information should therefore allow for a better understanding the impact of clouds on global warming.
Credits: European Space Agency (ESA) The position of the spacecraft relative to the Earth limits its operational life due to residual atmospheric resistance. It must be said that at this altitude, atmospheric drag has the effect of slowing the satellite down progressively. Thus, it will have to use its fuel reserve to compensate for this resistance. However, if the mission is expected to last three years, the satellite contains enough fuel to stay in place for another year.
Four instruments on board the EarthCARE satellite
To carry out its mission, EarthCARE has a range of instruments. Let us mention the presence of the ATmospheric LIDar (ATLID), a high spectral resolution atmospheric lidar whose objective will be to draw up a vertical profile of aerosols and thin clouds. Then, we have the Cloud Profiling Radar (CPR), a radar which aims to provide a vertical profile of cloud dimensions and a evaluation of the vertical velocity of particles in the clouds using Doppler measurements. In addition, the EarthCARE satellite carries a Multi-Spectral Imager (MSI), a seven-channel imaging spectrometer and a broadband radiometer. The latter is designed to perform radiance and flux measurements at the top of the atmospheric layer. While EarthCARE’s primary mission is to help develop better climate models, its usefulness does not stop there. Indeed, the machine should also make it possible to carry out best short term weather forecastBy analyzing the initial state of the clouds, the satellite will provide essential information in understanding and storm prediction.
