Photo credit: phys.org

Insights from ESA’s EarthCARE Satellite on Clouds and Aerosols

Following the successful launch of the EarthCARE satellite, the European Space Agency (ESA) has released initial images captured by its state-of-the-art instruments. These early findings offer a glimpse into how the satellite’s four advanced sensors collaborate to analyze the effects of clouds and aerosols on the Earth’s atmospheric heating and cooling.

Announced at the International Astronautical Congress in Milan, Italy, the results emphasize the significance of EarthCARE’s simultaneous measurements, which are expected to enhance our understanding of Earth’s energy balance. This balance is crucial, as it accounts for the energy the planet receives from the sun and the thermal radiation it emits back into space, influenced by factors such as clouds, aerosols, and greenhouse gases.

Though it is established that clouds and aerosols generally act as cooling agents for the atmosphere, their complex interactions with incoming solar energy and outgoing thermal radiation remain a subject of ongoing research.

Launched in May 2024 as a collaborative mission between ESA and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), EarthCARE aims to measure various atmospheric components to clarify how clouds and aerosols reflect solar energy and trap infrared radiation from the Earth.

In a recent statement, Simonetta Cheli, ESA’s Director of Earth Observation Programs, expressed optimism about the mission, citing the early data as impressive. She remarked, “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.” These findings validate the functionality of the satellite’s instruments and highlight the importance of their combined data.

The data collected on September 18, 2024, presents a panoramic view extending from Central Europe to Sweden, showcasing various cloud patterns, including a thunderstorm near Milan and low marine clouds over the Baltic Sea. The satellite’s cloud profiling radar and atmospheric lidar effectively capture critical information about clouds’ vertical structures and aerosol profiles, enhancing our appreciation of their dynamics.

The animation accompanying the data illustrates two primary features highlighting EarthCARE’s capabilities. It focuses initially on the thunderstorm that affected northern Italy, which was part of a more extensive convective system linked to Storm Boris, impacting regions across Central Europe. The radar effectively gathers data from within the dense thunderclouds, while the atmospheric lidar reveals the cloud’s uppermost layer, providing vital insight into the ice dynamics present at the cloud’s top.

Moreover, the synergy between the cloud profiling radar and lidar is illustrated by their complementary data, leading to a more precise characterization of clouds. Ultimately, EarthCARE strives to provide critical insights into how clouds and aerosols affect the atmospheric temperature, as demonstrated by the initial results.

The findings indicate a pronounced cooling effect at the top of the thunderstorm due to substantial thermal radiation emission into space. Meanwhile, below this cooling layer, the clouds absorb heat emanating from the Earth’s surface, contributing to localized warming effects.

In addition to the thunderstorm data, the imagery reveals cirrus clouds over Sweden, which, while seeming thin and translucent, have a significant impact on climate. They allow sunlight to warm the Earth’s surface but also trap thermal radiation, thus contributing to overall atmospheric warming.

While the atmospheric lidar provides extensive information regarding the cirrus clouds, particularly at altitudes between 8 and 13 km, the cloud profiling radar focuses on the lower altitudes where larger ice crystals form. Both instruments work together to deliver comprehensive data about these clouds, underscoring the warming influence of cirrus clouds through their capacity to absorb both solar and thermal radiation.

Additional observations include a low-level aerosol layer, likely associated with pollution haze over Germany, and marine clouds situated over the southern Baltic Sea.

Thorsten Fehr, the ESA EarthCARE Mission Scientist, commended the early availability of data, attributing it to the dedication of the EarthCARE team and the scientists who developed the data products. He emphasized the satellite’s unprecedented ability to provide simultaneous measurements of clouds and aerosols, enabling a thorough assessment of their climate impact.

Hitonori Maejima, Senior Chief Officer on Earth Observation Missions at JAXA, echoed this sentiment, noting that EarthCARE’s diverse measurements signify the fruitful collaboration between ESA and JAXA.

Citation: EarthCARE synergy reveals power of clouds and aerosols (2024, October 16) retrieved 18 October 2024 from https://phys.org/news/2024-10-earthcare-synergy-reveals-power-clouds.html

Source
phys.org