NASA Eyes New Proposals to Unlock Climate Change Secrets.

Exciting news for climate enthusiasts! NASA has chosen four proposals for in-depth studies. These missions, if approved, could significantly improve our understanding of Earth's changing climate. The proposals focus on key areas like greenhouse gas concentrations, ocean currents, and global ice changes.

This initiative stems from NASA's new Earth System Explorers Program, which aligns with recommendations from a prestigious scientific group. The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine's 2017 Decadal Survey emphasized the importance of investigator-led space missions to investigate critical Earth science issues.

Here's a glimpse into the four proposed missions:

• The Stratosphere Troposphere Response using Infrared Vertically-Resolved Light Explorer (STRIVE): This mission aims to provide highly detailed, near-global measurements of atmospheric conditions. STRIVE would track temperature, various atmospheric elements, and even aerosol properties across a vast range of altitudes. This unprecedented data could significantly improve our understanding of the atmosphere's upper layers.
• The Ocean Dynamics and Surface Exchange with the Atmosphere (ODYSEA): Our oceans play a vital role in regulating Earth's climate. ODYSEA focuses on obtaining superior measurements of ocean surface currents and how they interact with the atmosphere. This information is crucial for perfecting climate models and predicting future changes.
• Earth Dynamics Geodetic Explorer (EDGE): EDGE proposes simultaneous measurements of multiple greenhouse gasses. This would include quantifying ethane, a gas that can provide clues about natural and human-caused emissions. Improved data on greenhouse gases is essential for understanding the carbon cycle and predicting future climate trends.
• The Carbon Investigation (Carbon-I): As the name suggests, Carbon-I focuses on gathering high-resolution, global data on carbon dioxide and methane, two of the most potent greenhouse gasses. This mission could significantly enhance our understanding of the global methane budget and the factors influencing it.
• These proposed missions hold immense promise for furthering our knowledge of climate change. By collecting critical data from space, NASA aims to equip us with a clearer picture of our planet's evolving climate and empower us to make informed decisions for a sustainable future.