The European Space Agency (ESA) announced on its official website on February 1 that it plans to launch the Earth exploration satellite EarthCare in May, providing new clues for studying the complex interactions between clouds, aerosols and radiation in the Earth's atmosphere.
The satellite, which weighs about 2 tons, will carry four sets of advanced instruments, including cloud profile radar, atmospheric lidar, multispectral imager and broadband radiometer, and will carry out the most complex Earth exploration mission to date, providing a holistic view of the complex interactions between clouds, aerosols and radiation, providing new clues for the study of the Earth's radiation balance in the context of the climate crisis.
The satellite is designed to help researchers understand an important uncertainty in climate science – the role of clouds in heating and cooling the atmosphere, the European Space Agency explained. Clouds play an important role in the energy balance of the Earth's atmosphere, resulting in cooling or heating effects. Understanding these processes is critical to improving climate models and**.
According to reports, the satellite is the result of international cooperation between many European countries and Canada, the United States, and Japan, and is scheduled to be launched from the Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, the United States, in May. The satellite is currently undergoing its final round of testing and inspection in Germany.