Atmosphere Overview
Astronauts marvel at the narrow blue band of Earth’s atmosphere, glimpsed side-on from orbit. This is the place where we live: the atmosphere is the source of all the air we breathe and shields us from harmful radiation. Though change is in the air, unfortunately ongoing human activity is altering the composition of the atmosphere, adding vast levels of carbon dioxide, nitrogen, methane, other trace gases and aerosols. Global warming is only one unwelcome consequence – its future effects still unclear – along with atmospheric ozone depletion, acid rain and pollution plumes that impact human health. Space-based sensors help detect otherwise invisible changes, peering either sideways or down through the atmosphere to build up three-dimensional views of its chemical composition, sensitive to a few parts per billion. ERS-2’s GOME tracked the polar ozone holes for more than 15 years, supplemented since 2002 by Envisat’s GOMOS and MIPAS. The same satellite’s SCIAMACHY sensor shows concentrations of carbon dioxide and other key greenhouse gases. Meanwhile imaging spectrometers – such as Envisat’s MERIS and Proba-1’s CHRIS – are sensitive to clouds and aerosols whose climate effects are yet to be fully quantified.
Atmosphere News
Another El Niño on the horizon?07 December 2018The jury is still out as to whether climate change will lead to stronger El Niño events, but while representatives from around 200 countries at the COP24 conference are working to breathe life into the 2105 Paris Agreement, there is a 75–80% chance that a fully-fledged event could be with us in the next couple of months. 
Copernicus Sentinel-5P reveals new nasties24 October 2018The Copernicus Sentinel-5P satellite has been providing data on carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide and ozone since July, and now other polluting nasties such as sulphur dioxide and formaldehyde have joined the list of data products available to monitor the air we breathe.
Specific Topics on Atmosphere
ChemistryA number of live operational products are produced which are aimed at increasing our understanding of the complexity of atmospheric chemistry: both trace gases and aerosols. 
Climate Change/KyotoWith the increased interest in supporting and monitoring the implementation of international treaties on the World's Climate, such as Kyoto, the work dedicated to the study of the full range of variables is extensive. 
Clouds & PrecipitationThe analysis of the properties of clouds is aimed at understanding their evolution and development. In particular this work hopes to improve rainfall prediction techniques. 
OzoneThe measurement of change in the ozone layer is today operationally possible at a high temporal and spatial resolution in near real-time allowing ongoing updates of the effects of pollution. 
PhenomenonThe input of satellite data into meteorological modeling for weather forecasting is well established with satellites fully dedicated to supporting its operational requirements. 
Radiation & TemperatureThe modelling of radiation processes are essential to our understanding of the energy cycles between the land surface and the atmosphere. In addition to which they provide an important input to the planning of solar energy programmes. |
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