The recent launch of the Copernicus Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich satellite from the Vandenberg Air Force base in California has grabbed significant media attention. Taking off aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, this launch marks an important development in global sea level monitoring and climate change research.
Jason-CS Mission: Sentinel-6 Satellite’s Role
Specifically, the Sentinel-6-Satellite is part of the Jason Continuity of Service (Jason-CS) mission. Its main purpose is to measure fluctuations in global sea levels. The data gathered by this mission is invaluable for understanding the changing dynamics of our planet’s climate.
The Explicit Objective of the Mission
The ultimate goal of the Jason-CS mission is to assess the height of the ocean, an essential factor for understanding the climate shifts on Earth. By observing changes in sea levels over time, scientists can gain deeper insights into how our planet’s climate is evolving.
Components of the Mission: Sentinel-6 and Sentinel-6B
The mission comprises two satellites: Sentinel-6, which has already been launched, and Sentinel-6B, scheduled to be launched in 2025. Working together, these satellites will help maintain a consistent and comprehensive monitoring record of changes in global sea levels.
Collaborative Effort: Global Participation
This mission is a joint effort of several prominent international organizations including the European Space Agency (ESA), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (Eumetsat), the USA’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and the European Union (EU). Additionally, France’s National Centre for Space Studies (CNES) has also contributed to this mission.
Working Mechanism of the Satellite
These satellites operate by sending pulses to the Earth’s surface, then calculating the time it takes for these pulses to return. This data enables accurate measurements of sea surface height. Additionally, the satellite measures water vapour along its path and pinpoints its location using GPS and ground-based lasers. According to NASA, this methodology allows the monitoring of critical changes in ocean currents and heat storage from space.
Significance of the Mission
The data generated by this mission is fundamental to understanding how the ocean stores and distributes heat, water, and carbon within the climate system. The information supports operational oceanography by improving forecasts of ocean currents, wind, and wave conditions.
Moreover, the data enhances both short-term weather forecasting and long-term seasonal predictions, such as those for phenomena like El Niño and La Niña.
Preceding Satellites and Missions
The Jason-CS mission is not the first of its kind. Other joint ventures between NASA and CNES launched since 1992 help track changes in global oceans. These include satellites like TOPEX/Poseidon, Jason-1 and OSTN/Jason-2 among others. Together, they form a critical framework for observing and responding to global climate change.