Enhanced Collaboration on Cloud and Aerosol Research to Address Climate Crisis

Enhanced Collaboration on Cloud and Aerosol Research to Address Climate Crisis
by Erica Marchand
Paris, France (SPX) Mar 12, 2024

The European Space Agency (ESA) is on the brink of launching the EarthCARE satellite into orbit, marking a significant step forward in our understanding of how clouds and aerosols impact the Earth's energy balance. This launch is part of a broader initiative to tackle the urgent demands of the climate crisis through enhanced understanding of Earth's atmosphere.

The European Commission (EC) and ESA have prioritized the study of clouds and aerosols through the new Earth System Science Initiative, a collaborative effort designed to address critical environmental challenges. This partnership aims to harmonize scientific activities under the Horizon Europe and FutureEO programmes, ensuring a unified approach to advancing Earth system science.

This initiative will enhance Earth system models, providing vital science-based information and tools to European policymakers and citizens for navigating climate-induced environmental threats. The focus on clouds and aerosols is especially pertinent as preparations for the EarthCARE mission ramp up.

The EarthCARE satellite is equipped with four advanced instruments, offering an unprecedented view of the interactions between clouds, aerosols, and radiation. This mission promises to shed light on the complex dynamics affecting our planet's radiation balance and climate system.

Despite the critical cooling effect clouds and aerosols have on the Earth's temperature, significant uncertainties remain regarding their role in the climate system. The EC-ESA collaboration aims to diminish these uncertainties through three new science projects, which will integrate ground and satellite observations with climate models.

Researchers involved in the EC-funded CERTAINTY project and ESA's AIRSENSE project are set to leverage EarthCARE's capabilities to enhance the predictive accuracy of Earth-system models. The collaboration also aims to inform climate and air-quality policy decisions.

As the scientific community works to close knowledge gaps in our understanding of the Earth system, the insights gained from this collaboration will be crucial for assessing the feasibility of the Paris Agreement targets and preparing for future climate conditions.

The concerted efforts on cloud and aerosol research are expected to refine climate predictions, aiding regional adaptation strategies to warming temperatures and contributing to global climate change mitigation efforts.