NASA has initiated the first of two satellite missions designed to enhance climate change predictions by measuring the heat escaping from Earth’s polar regions. This marks the first time NASA has deployed a satellite specifically for this purpose. The CubeSat, part of NASA’s Polar Radiant Energy in the Far-InfraRed Experiment (PREFIRE) mission, was launched from New Zealand on May 25, with a second satellite launched on June 4 at 11:13 PM EDT.
The PREFIRE mission aims to quantify the heat emitted from Earth’s coldest and most remote areas. The data collected will refine computer models that scientists use to forecast changes in the planet’s ice, oceans, and weather patterns due to global warming.
Karen St. Germain, NASA’s Earth sciences research director, emphasized the significance of this mission: “This new information—something we’ve never had before—will enhance our ability to model polar climate dynamics and broader climate change impacts.”
