What is it about?
The earth’s atmosphere is divided into different layers. The lowest layer is called the troposphere. The next layer up is called the stratosphere. The bit where these two meet is called the upper troposphere–lower stratosphere region (UTLS). This region has a big effect on our climate. For example, the level of ozone there affects how much of the sun’s ultraviolet radiation reaches earth. So it’s important we understand as much as possible about this layer of our atmosphere and what affects it. Recently, scientists have developed new technologies that can take more detailed ‘pictures’ of gases in the atmosphere. This project involved the design and testing of a balloon-like satellite that can carry the device that takes these ‘pictures’. The satellite is built from commonly available materials. The scientists hope that others will now be able to build and use similar satellites, and that we’ll be able to gather much more information about the UTLS. The balloon was successfully flown for the first time in Canada in 2019. There were a few teething problems but the main goals of the project were met.
Featured Image
Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash
Why is it important?
KEY TAKEAWAY: This new technology will make it easier for scientists to gather more information about greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. This helps us to monitor climate change. The more we know about how gas levels are changing, the more we can be sure of whether our efforts to tackle climate change are working.
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: A balloon-borne imaging Fourier transform spectrometer for atmospheric trace gas profiling, Review of Scientific Instruments, September 2021, American Institute of Physics,
DOI: 10.1063/5.0060125.
You can read the full text:
Resources
Fighting Climate Change: The New Corporate Social Responsibility
Companies and countries are now expected to protect the environment as much as they would protect human rights. They need to be ready to obey new laws in this area.
Geoscience can help us reduce our carbon emissions.
Governments and other decision makers need to understand the role geoscientific solutions can play in reducing carbon emissions.
A new ‘green’ coating for flame-retardant wooden buildings
Wood is a more environmentally friendly building material than many alternatives, but fire risk needs to be managed in a way that is also environmentally friendly. This new biogel could be an important part of helping us build more sustainably.
Climate Change Knowledge Cooperative
Explore the wider collection of climate change research summaries.
The arctic climate crisis and its ‘chilling’ implications
The Arctic ice melting crisis is of immense immediate importance and re-quires more than just policy changes. Focused research on unconventional technological solutions to stop the melting is urgently needed.
Contributors
Be the first to contribute to this page
