
The
Airbus-built EarthCARE climate-monitoring satellite was successfully launched from Vandenberg military base, California, last week. EarthCARE (Earth Cloud Aerosol and Radiation Explorer) is a joint undertaking between the European and Japanese Space Agencies (
ESA and
JAXA). The satellite will examine the role clouds and aerosols (tiny atmospheric particles) play in reflecting solar radiation back into space and cooling down the atmosphere, as well as in trapping infra-red radiation emitted from the Earth’s surface and warming up the atmosphere.
Alain Fauré, head of Space Systems at Airbus, said: “EarthCARE is ESA’s largest and most complex Earth Explorer spacecraft – a flagship mission whose data will help improve the accuracy and reliability of climate and numerical weather prediction models. International cooperation was key with more than 200 research institutes and 45 companies across Europe working hand-in-hand to deliver this spacecraft.”
EarthCARE will draw up vertical profiles of natural and human-made aerosols, register the distribution of water droplets and ice crystals and how they are transported in clouds, and provide essential input to improve the modelling of the warming climate and weather forecasting. Aerosols influence the life cycle of clouds, and so contribute indirectly to how they give off radiation – measuring them will give a better understanding of Earth’s energy budget.
The spacecraft was developed, built and tested with the involvement of experts from 15 European countries as well as Japan and Canada, under the leadership of the Airbus site in Friedrichshafen, Germany. The Airbus-built atmospheric lidar ATLID is one of the four instruments on the EarthCARE satellite, providing vertical profiles of aerosols and thin clouds. ATLID is the second spaceborne ultra-violet lidar from Europe following Aeolus’, making Airbus a worldwide specialist in spaceborne lidars.
The satellite also includes a Broad-Band Radiometer developed by ESA through European industry, a Multi-Spectral Imager developed by Airbus’ subsidiary
Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd in the UK and a Cloud Profiling Radar developed by JAXA. This unique combination of instruments will allow scientists for the first time to directly assess the role of clouds and aerosols on Earth’s radiation budget with one integrated satellite system thereby reducing current uncertainties.
EarthCARE will circle Earth in a Sun-synchronous 400km polar orbit crossing the equator in the early afternoon to optimise daylight conditions. Weighing 2.3 tonnes, and measuring 18m long, once its solar panel and CPR instrument are deployed EarthCARE will have a lifespan of at least three years.