The Earth Surface Mineral Dust Source Investigation (EMIT) mission will improve scientists' understanding of the complex processes that lead to cloud formation, which play a crucial role in the Earth's energy balance.
The satellite will be equipped with a state-of-the-art imaging spectrometer to provide unprecedented global observations of the three-dimensional structure of clouds, including the size and shape of cloud droplets and ice particles, as well as the amount of water and ice they contain.
This data will enable scientists to better understand how clouds form and evolve, how they interact with the Earth's surface and atmosphere, and how they contribute to the Earth's energy balance.
Clouds play a dual role in the Earth's climate system: they reflect sunlight back into space, cooling the planet, but they also absorb and trap infrared radiation emitted from the Earth's surface, warming the planet.
However, the exact impact of clouds on climate is not well understood, and it is one of the largest uncertainties in climate models. The EMIT mission will help to reduce this uncertainty by providing more accurate measurements of cloud properties and processes, which will ultimately lead to better predictions of future climate change.
"We are very excited about the potential of the EMIT mission to enhance our understanding of the role of clouds in climate change," said Dr. Paul Hertz, director of NASA's Astrophysics Division. "This mission will provide a unique global perspective on cloud properties, which will help scientists to develop better models of how clouds will respond to future changes in the Earth's climate."
