Sophisticated European-Japanese Satellite Launched to Study Clouds and Climate
BRUSSELS — In a groundbreaking mission, a joint European-Japanese satellite has been sent into space to investigate how clouds impact the Earth’s climate.
Clouds play a vital role in regulating the planet’s temperature – some clouds cool the Earth while others trap heat like a blanket.
The Earthcare mission will utilize a laser and radar to delve into the atmosphere and determine the delicate balance of cloud behavior.
This balance is a major uncertainty in climate forecasting models, especially in predicting how the climate will respond to rising levels of greenhouse gases.
“Many models suggest that cloud cover will decrease in the future, leading to less sunlight being reflected back into space. This can amplify the warming effect of carbon dioxide,” explained Dr. Robin Hogan from the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts.
The 2.3-tonne satellite was launched from California aboard a SpaceX rocket.
Managed by the European Space Agency (ESA), Earthcare is considered the organization’s most complex Earth observation mission to date.
It took 20 years to progress from mission approval to launch due to the immense technical challenges in ensuring the instruments function as intended.
Earthcare will orbit the Earth at an altitude of approximately 400km (250 miles).
The satellite is equipped with four instruments that will work together to provide crucial information for climate scientists.
These instruments include an imager, a European ultraviolet laser, a Japanese radar, and a radiometer to study cloud properties and energy balance.
Dr. Helen Brindley from the UK’s National Centre for Earth Observation highlighted the importance of understanding the energy balance in driving the climate.
Aside from advancing long-term climate research, Earthcare’s data will also improve current weather forecasts by analyzing cloud behavior.
The concept for Earthcare was proposed by Prof. Anthony Illingworth and colleagues in 1993, making its launch a dream come true for the team.
One of the major technical challenges faced during development was creating a space laser, which led to delays and increased costs for the mission.
Earthcare’s operational lifespan is limited by its low orbit, with a fuel reserve for up to four years to counteract atmospheric drag.
The UK played a significant role in the satellite’s development, contributing key components and ground systems for data processing.
The Japanese space agency (JAXA) has given the satellite a nickname, “Hakuryu” or “White Dragon”, symbolizing its mythical significance and celestial aspirations.
“Earthcare, like a dragon rising into space, will become an entity that envisions the future for us,” said JAXA project manager Eiichi Tomita. — BBC
