NASA Sends Climate Satellite into Orbit
*Billed to survey oceans and earth-earming atmosphere
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration, NASA, has dispatched a satellite into orbit to survey oceans across the world and global atmosphere of a warming globe. The $948m satellite, which blasted off at the Cape Canaveral, Fla., Thursday, is expected to be in orbit for three years.
Within the period, it is scheduled to study the oceans from about 676 kilometres or 420 miles above the earth and as well as the atmosphere. It is also billed to to scan the globe with high tech scientific instruments, one of which will take a monthly measurement.
“It’s going to be an unprecedented view of our home planet,” Project manager, Jeremy Werdell said.
Among others, observations made by the satellite is expected to provide detailed changes in temperature, better predict occurences of harmful algae blooms and improved hurricane and other severe weather forecast for scientists.
Known as Pace, a shortened version of Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, Ocean Ecosystem, the satellite is also described as the most advanced mission ever conceived and launched to study ocean biology.
Where current earth-observing satellites are able to see in seven or eight colors, Pace, is expected to be releasing data information capable of seeing in 200 colour's to scientists in a month or two. That capability believed to offer scientists greater ability to identify not only the types of algae in the sea but also the types of particles in the air.
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