• Table of Contents

  • Combined Ocean Observations: NASA’s PACE and US-European SWOT Satellites
  • The PACE Satellite: Unlocking the Secrets of the Ocean
  • The SWOT Mission: Mapping Earth’s Water Surface
  • The Power of Combined Observations
  • Summary

Combined Ocean Observations: NASA’s PACE and US-European SWOT Satellites

Oceans cover more than 70% of our planet’s surface and play a crucial role in regulating climate, supporting biodiversity, and providing resources for human well-being. Understanding the complex dynamics of the ocean is essential for addressing global challenges such as climate change, sustainable fisheries, and coastal management. To achieve this, NASA has developed the Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, and ocean Ecosystem (PACE) satellite, while the United States and Europe are collaborating on the Surface Water and Ocean Topography (SWOT) mission. These two initiatives, working in tandem, offer a unique and comprehensive approach to ocean observations.

The PACE Satellite: Unlocking the Secrets of the Ocean

NASA’s PACE satellite, set to launch in 2023, aims to provide unprecedented insights into the ocean’s biological and physical properties. Equipped with advanced sensors, PACE will measure ocean color, aerosols, clouds, and other key parameters. By monitoring the distribution and abundance of phytoplankton, tiny marine plants that form the base of the ocean food web, PACE will help scientists understand the health and productivity of marine ecosystems.

Phytoplankton also play a crucial role in regulating Earth’s climate by absorbing carbon dioxide through photosynthesis. PACE’s observations will enable scientists to better quantify the ocean’s carbon uptake, providing valuable data for climate models and efforts to mitigate global warming.

Furthermore, PACE will monitor aerosols and clouds, which have a significant impact on Earth’s energy balance. By studying their properties and interactions, scientists can improve climate predictions and understand the role of aerosols in air quality and human health.

The SWOT Mission: Mapping Earth’s Water Surface

The US-European SWOT mission, scheduled for launch in 2022, focuses on mapping Earth’s water surface with unprecedented accuracy. SWOT will measure the height of lakes, rivers, reservoirs, and ocean features, providing detailed information about water storage, flow rates, and changes over time.

This data is crucial for managing water resources, predicting floods and droughts, and understanding the dynamics of coastal zones. For example, SWOT can help identify areas at risk of flooding and enable better planning for infrastructure development and disaster response.

SWOT’s high-resolution measurements will also improve our understanding of ocean currents, which play a vital role in redistributing heat around the planet. By mapping these currents in detail, scientists can enhance climate models and improve predictions of regional and global climate patterns.

The Power of Combined Observations

While PACE and SWOT have distinct objectives, their combined observations offer a more comprehensive understanding of the ocean and its interactions with the atmosphere and land. By integrating data from both satellites, scientists can gain insights into complex processes that would be impossible to achieve with a single mission.

For example, combining PACE’s measurements of phytoplankton distribution with SWOT’s data on ocean currents can help scientists understand how these microscopic organisms are transported across the ocean. This knowledge is crucial for predicting the spread of harmful algal blooms, which can have devastating impacts on marine ecosystems and human health.

Moreover, the synergy between PACE and SWOT can enhance our understanding of the carbon cycle. PACE’s measurements of ocean color and phytoplankton abundance, combined with SWOT’s data on water circulation, can provide valuable insights into the processes that control carbon uptake and storage in the ocean.

Summary

NASA’s PACE satellite and the US-European SWOT mission represent significant advancements in ocean observations. PACE’s focus on biological and physical properties, combined with SWOT’s high-resolution mapping of Earth’s water surface, offer a comprehensive approach to understanding the ocean’s complex dynamics.

These combined observations provide valuable insights for addressing global challenges aligned with Predictive Planet’s goals. From climate action and sustainable fisheries to economic growth and health and welfare, the data from PACE and SWOT can inform evidence-based decision-making and support efforts to create a more sustainable and harmonious planet.