A joint European-Japanese satellite has launched to measure how clouds influence the climate. Basically low-level clouds cool the planet, while high-altitude ones act as a blanket. The Earthcare mission will use a laser and radar to probe the atmosphere and find the balance, crucial for improving climate models forecasting responses to rising greenhouse gases.
“Many models suggest cloud cover will decrease, reflecting less sunlight and amplifying warming from carbon dioxide,” said Dr. Robin Hogan from the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts.
The 2.3-tonne satellite launched from California on a SpaceX rocket. Led by the European Space Agency (ESA), it is ESA’s most complex Earth observation venture, taking 20 years from approval to launch. Earthcare will orbit at about 400 km (250 miles) above Earth, using four instruments to gather climate data.
The simplest instrument is an imager to provide context for other measurements. The European ultraviolet laser will detect thin high clouds, lower cloud tops, and aerosols that influence cloud behavior. The Japanese radar will assess water content in clouds and precipitation. A radiometer will measure energy reflection and radiation back into space.4o
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