Can We Monitor Climate Change from Space?

It might sound incredible, but scientists are actually able to physically monitor climate change from space, with perhaps even greater accuracy than measurements conducted here on Earth. This monitoring takes a number of different forms, from quantifying the amounts that sea levels have risen to measuring the amounts of certain harmful gases in our atmosphere.

The innovative plan to keep track of our carbon footprint and assess the state of the Earth from outer space has been a work in progress for the last decade or so and is now beginning to bear the fruits of labour.

Airborne Pollution Monitoring

Growing air pollution problems around the world have led to an increased desire to quantify exact levels of pollution in the air we breathe. Such concerns are particularly pertinent in Asian countries such as industrial powerhouses China and India or Indonesia, which has been suffering from extensive forest fires over recent years leading to heavy pollution.

As a result, a variety of techniques have been pioneered to try and provide more detailed and accurate information about this pollution. At the inaugural Atmospheric Science Showcase in Bedfordshire last December, a new method of measuring air quality from an aircraft was unveiled by technicians from Cranfield University.

However, an even more ambitious programme to monitor pollution levels from space has been in the works for some time now. Back in 2011, a brand new range of Earth observation satellites was announced to be launched by 2020, measuring a variety of harmful contaminants and aerosols in the air. Among other pollutants, the satellites are said to be able to calculate levels of stratospheric ozone and sulphur dioxide. Though experts are hopeful the project will be realised on time, investment is still needed to secure the funds required in order for it to go ahead.

Observing Ocean Levels from Afar

One project which does not require further investment, however, is the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. Backed by US billionaire Elon Musk, the project is attempting to pioneer a reusable rocket. Last Sunday, the rocket was launched into space equipped with satellite Jason-3, a key piece of climate-monitoring equipment.

This satellite is a joint venture between five different organisations, including the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The rocket’s job is to deposit Jason-3 830 miles above the Earth’s surface before returning to a safe landing platform on the ocean’s surface. It will be Jason-3’s job, meanwhile, to monitor the levels of the ocean itself.

It will achieve this by sending radio signals back down to Earth and then measuring the amount of time it takes for them to bounce off the surface of the waves and back up into space. Though it sounds incredibly complex, the technology is actually accurate to within 0.5cm, according to sources within NASA.

Moreover, Jason-3 is also said to be able to help in the prevention and preparation of natural disasters, by charting ocean currents, tracking oil spills and predicting tsunamis. Clearly, our ability to monitor the climate from space is advancing in leaps and bounds.