Published on 16 December 2021
NASA will launch four Earth science missions in 2022 to provide scientists with more information about fundamental climate systems and processes including extreme storms, surface water and oceans, and atmospheric dust. Scientists will discuss the upcoming missions at the American Geophysical Union's (AGU) 2021 Fall Meeting, hosted in New Orleans between Dec. 13 and 17.
NASA has a unique view of our planet from space. NASA's fleet of Earth-observing satellites provide high quality data on Earth's interconnected environment, from air quality to sea ice.
These four missions will enhance the ability to monitor our changing planet:
- TROPICS will use six small satellites to provide improved and rapid measurements of tropical cyclones.
- EMIT will trace the origin and composition of mineral dust that can affect climate, ecosystems, air quality, and human health with an imaging spectrometer aboard the International Space Station.
- NOAA's JPSS-2 will help scientists predict extreme weather conditions including floods, wildfires, volcanoes and more.
- SWOT will evaluate the world's oceans and their role in climate change, as well as monitor lakes, rivers, and other surface waters.