ESA's EarthCARE Mission is shedding new light on the complex interactions of clouds and aerosols and their effect on our planet's climate. Launched in May 2024, this joint project between the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) is set to change how scientists monitor and understand the Earth's energy balance.
Unveiled recently at the International Astronautical Congress held in Milan, the initial images captured by EarthCARE have illustrated the capabilities of its four advanced instruments. According to Simonetta Cheli, ESA’s Director of Earth Observation Programmes, these early results are promising. “Although we are still in the early stages of the mission and busy with the satellite’s commissioning phase, the results we present today are truly remarkable,” Cheli remarked. “They highlight the power of their combined measurements.”
EarthCARE's mission is particularly significant as it aims to measure how clouds and aerosols reflect incoming solar radiation and trap outgoing infrared energy. Understanding this interaction is key to grasping how these elements regulate Earth's climate, which is influenced by various factors including clouds, aerosols, and greenhouse gases. These relationships are complex, and much remains to be understood about them.
One particularly interesting performance from EarthCARE includes its cloud profiling radar and atmospheric lidar. During the thunderstorm events over northern Italy, EarthCARE was able to capture comprehensive data showcasing the inner dynamics of thunderclouds. The measurements revealed both cooling and warming effects of the clouds through thermal radiation emissions and their absorptive capacities.
The satellite recently monitored two distinct phenomena during storm Boris, which impacted several regions of Central Europe. Data suggested strong cooling at the top of thunderclouds, as the clouds expel significant thermal radiation, contrasted by lower sections absorbing heat from Earth’s surface, leading to warming.
Meanwhile, another major insight was related to high-altitude cirrus clouds captured over Sweden. These clouds interact with sunlight and thermal radiation, both warming the atmosphere and preventing heat from escaping. By observing these clouds’ behaviors, researchers can learn how they affect long-term climate trends.
Each of the four sensors onboard EarthCARE serves unique functions, gathering valuable data on atmospheric conditions. The cloud profiling radar, contributed by JAXA, investigates the vertical structure and internal dynamics of clouds, providing key insights not feasible previously. The atmospheric lidar focuses on detecting thin clouds and aerosol profiles. The multispectral imager offers wide-scene views across different wavelengths, and the broadband radiometer measures both reflected and outgoing Earth radiation.
On another frontier, the BEXUS 34/35 Stratospheric Balloon Campaign marked an educational milestone for university students across Europe. Between September 27 and October 7, 2024, 68 students engaged hands-on with this adventurous initiative, which brought them to the Esrange space center in northern Sweden.
The BEXUS program provides students with opportunities to conceptualize and develop scientific experiments mimicking professional space missions. This year, nine teams representing various universities successfully launched their experiments aboard two stratospheric balloons, BEXUS 34 and 35. While working under the guidance of experts from space institutions, including ESA and DLR, students faced design challenges and learned the rigors of preparing for actual balloon launches.
The excitement bubbled over when the BEXUS 35 balloon finally took flight after weather delays on October 2. With the team’s efforts resulting in successful experimental procedures, the gondola reached 27.7 km and safely returned after 3.5 hours. It carried four investigative projects including CURiE, which aimed at evaluating how photovoltaic materials withstand radiation.
BEXUS 34 encountered puppet strings of wind delays, but perseverance paid off. After several attempts, it launched on October 4. This balloon hosted four fascinating experiments, including RETINA, calculated to analyze thermal management and navigation adjustments under stratospheric conditions.
Both balloon missions were deemed successful with minor issues addressed effectively. Preliminary presentations of results made during the campaign indicate great optimism with regards to obtaining detailed analysis over the coming months.
This engagement, the students' experiences, and the collective work done within the REXUS/BEXUS program will undoubtedly establish strong foundations for the participants’ future careers within the realms of space science and engineering. Celebrations were justified as the programs continue validating innovative approaches to atmospheric research.
These developments embody the relentless quest for knowledge and the collaborative steps made within the scientific community. ESA's EarthCARE mission and the BEXUS campaigns reveal how observatory science is necessary to grasp the future interplay of our planet's atmosphere and the quest for sustainability. Scientists and students alike are driven by the need to piece together the puzzle of Earth's climate, equipped with new tools, data, and the passion to pave the way for future discoveries.
