PREFIRE MISSION
Source: IndianExpress
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Context
- NASA's upcoming mission, PREFIRE (Polar Radiant Energy in the Far-InfraRed Experiment), aims to fill critical gaps in understanding how the Earth's polar regions, the Arctic and Antarctic, radiate heat into space and influence global climate.
- The mission will use twin CubeSats, small shoebox-sized satellites, to study these phenomena, with the first satellite set to launch on May 22, 2024, from New Zealand.
Details
- Second Satellite Launch:Two weeks after the first.
- Launch Vehicle:Electron launch vehicle.
- Instruments:Equipped with thermal infrared spectrometers, each weighing less than 6 pounds (3 kilograms).
- Orbits:Asynchronous near-polar orbits, overlapping every few hours near the poles for maximum coverage.
- The CubeSat platform costs less than a full-size satellite while providing critical climate data.
Heat Distribution
- Energy Absorption:Earth absorbs energy from the Sun at the tropics, which is then moved toward the poles by air and water currents.
- Far-Infrared Wavelengths:About 60% of the heat energy that flows out to space in far-infrared wavelengths has never been systematically measured.
Objectives
- Climate Model Accuracy:
- Heat Loss Measurement:Reveal the full spectrum of heat loss from Earth’s polar regions.
- Improve Predictions:Data will improve climate models and predictions of climate change and sea level rise.
- Scientific Achievements:
- New Information:Provide new data on how the atmosphere and ice influence heat radiation from the polar regions.
- Arctic Warming:Help understand why the Arctic has warmed more than 2.5 times faster than the global average since the 1970s.
- Heat Emission Efficiency:Better knowledge of how efficiently far-infrared heat is emitted by snow, sea ice, and the influence of clouds.
- Future Predictions:Enhance predictions of heat exchange changes and their effects on ice sheet melting, atmospheric temperatures, and global weather.
Importance of Polar Regions
- Global Climate Balance:
- Energy Balance:The balance between the energy received from the Sun and the energy radiated out into space determines Earth’s temperature and climate.
- Polar Influence:Polar regions play a crucial role in this energy balance and, consequently, in shaping global climate.
- Impact on Global Weather:
- Climate and Weather:Changes in the polar regions can significantly affect global weather patterns, leading to extreme storms, flooding, and coastal erosion.
- Scientific Insight:Understanding polar heat loss helps predict and mitigate these impacts.
|
Category |
Arctic |
Antarctic |
|
Location |
Northern Hemisphere, centered around the Arctic Ocean |
Southern Hemisphere, centered around the continent of Antarctica |
|
Geography |
Ocean surrounded by land (Canada, Russia, Greenland, USA (Alaska), Norway, Sweden, Finland, Iceland) |
Continent surrounded by the Southern Ocean |
|
Ice Coverage |
Sea ice varies seasonally, with significant melting in summer and refreezing in winter |
Permanent ice sheet covering the continent, with ice shelves like Ross and Filchner-Ronne |
|
Temperature Range |
-40°C in winter to 0°C in summer |
-60°C in the interior in winter to around -20°C on the coast in summer |
|
Precipitation |
Low, classified as a polar desert, most falls as snow |
Extremely low, the driest continent, most falls as snow |
|
Flora and Fauna |
Polar bears, Arctic foxes, caribou, seals, migratory birds, tundra vegetation like mosses, lichens, and shrubs |
Penguins, seals, seabirds (albatross), limited vegetation (mosses, lichens, algae) |
|
Marine Life |
Whales, walruses, fish species, rich marine biodiversity |
Krill, whales, seals, penguins, rich marine ecosystem with many endemic species |
|
Presence of Penguins |
Absent |
Native, including species like Emperor and Adélie penguins |
|
Presence of Polar Bears |
Native |
Absent |
|
Terrestrial Mammals |
Present, including species like reindeer (caribou), Arctic foxes, musk oxen, and wolves |
Virtually absent; some seals and penguins are considered semi-terrestrial |
|
Tundra Lines |
Extensive tundra with mosses, lichens, and dwarf shrubs in areas like Alaska, Canada, and Siberia |
No true tundra; limited terrestrial vegetation restricted to mosses, lichens, and algae |
|
Human Presence |
Indigenous communities (Inuit, Saami), multiple research stations |
No indigenous population, temporary research stations under the Antarctic Treaty System |
|
Climate Change Impact |
Rapid warming, twice the global average rate, leading to ice melt and permafrost thawing |
West Antarctica experiencing warming and ice loss, East Antarctica relatively stable or gaining ice |
|
Research Focus |
Climate change, ecology, sustainable development |
Glaciology, meteorology, astronomy, biology |
|
Role in Climate Regulation |
Reflects sunlight (albedo effect), stores freshwater in ice |
Reflects sunlight (albedo effect), stores vast amounts of freshwater in ice |
|
Global Significance |
Influences global weather patterns, sea level rise, and biodiversity |
Affects global sea level rise, climate models, and weather patterns |
|
Primary Research Bodies |
Arctic Council, National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC) |
Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR), British Antarctic Survey (BAS) |
Sources:
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PRACTICE QUESTION Q. By addressing the current gaps in polar energy measurements, PREFIRE is expected to make significant contributions to our understanding of global climate dynamics and the specific challenges posed by rapid changes in the polar regions. Discuss. (250 words) |
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