EarthCARE will decipher interactions in the atmosphere
EarthCARE will decipher interactions in the atmosphere
Whether drought and heat in southern Europe or extremely heavy precipitation events in Germany – solar radiation is the decisive factor for climate events and weather dynamics on Earth, as it drives circulation in the atmosphere. However, this radiation is distributed very differently in the atmosphere, where it also interacts with clouds and aerosols – a mixture of solid and liquid particles – as well as with trace gases. To enhance the accuracy of predictions in the near future, a comprehensive global understanding of aerosol and cloud parameters, which are currently not easy to determine, is important. Deciphering their interactions within the atmosphere is crucial. This and the measurement of radiation density will allow the radiation budget of the planet to be determined much more precisely than is the case today. The European Space Agency (ESA) and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) are therefore planning to launch their largest and most complex Earth Explorer Earth observation mission to date in May 2024.
Credit:
ESA/ATG medialab