PREFIRE involves two CubeSats, launched from New Zealand on May 25 and June 5, respectively. The first CubeSat began transmitting data on July 1, while the second started collecting data on July 25. Data from the mission will be made available after resolving a GPS issue with the second CubeSat.
This mission aims to provide researchers with a detailed understanding of how and when the polar regions emit far-infrared radiation, which has wavelengths greater than 15 micrometers. The study also examines the role of atmospheric water vapor and clouds in regulating heat loss from Earth to space. As these elements can trap far-infrared radiation, they contribute to the greenhouse effect by preventing heat from escaping, thereby warming the planet.
"We are constantly looking for new ways to observe the planet and fill in critical gaps in our knowledge. With CubeSats like PREFIRE, we are doing both," commented Karen St. Germain, director of the Earth Science Division at NASA Headquarters in Washington. "The mission, part of our competitively-selected Earth Venture program, is a great example of the innovative science we can achieve through collaboration with university and industry partners."
The polar regions, despite receiving minimal sunlight, play a significant role in Earth's energy balance by emitting large amounts of heat into space, much of it in the far-infrared spectrum. PREFIRE is the first mission to systematically measure these emissions.
"It's so exciting to see the data coming in," said Tristan L'Ecuyer, PREFIRE's principal investigator and a climate scientist at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. "With the addition of the far-infrared measurements from PREFIRE, we're seeing for the first time the full energy spectrum that Earth radiates into space, which is critical to understanding climate change."
The PREFIRE data visualization illustrates the intensity of radiation emitted from Earth across various wavelengths, including far-infrared. The visualization showcases mid-infrared emissions recorded in early July during several polar orbits by the first CubeSat, focusing on emissions over Greenland and demonstrating variations in far-infrared emissions across the atmosphere.
The PREFIRE CubeSats orbit asynchronously near the poles, allowing them to pass over the same regions of the Arctic and Antarctic within hours. This synchronized data collection offers researchers a timeline of measurements to analyze short-lived phenomena, such as ice melting or cloud formation, and their effects on far-infrared emissions over time.
Related Links
Polar Radiant Energy in the Far-Infrared Experiment
Beyond the Ice Age
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