Summary:
- NASA has recently launched two new missions to study the Earth's atmosphere and climate. These missions will provide valuable data and insights to help scientists better understand the complex processes that drive our planet's weather and climate.
- The first mission, called PACE (Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem), will study the role of phytoplankton in the Earth's climate system. Phytoplankton are tiny, microscopic plants that play a crucial role in the ocean's food chain and in the absorption of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
- The second mission, called TROPICS (Time-Resolved Observations of Precipitation structure and storm Intensity with a Constellation of Smallsats), will use a network of small satellites to monitor the formation and evolution of tropical storms and hurricanes. This information will help improve weather forecasting and our understanding of how climate change is affecting these powerful weather systems.