Context: EarthCARE satellite, a joint mission of ESA (European Space Agency) and JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency), has been successfully launched.

About EarthCARE satellite

• It aims to examine the role clouds and aerosols play in reflecting incident solar radiation back to space while trapping the infrared radiation emitted from Earth’s surface.

• Equipped with instruments such as Atmospheric Lidar, cloud profiling radar, multispectral imager (MSI), and broad-band radiometer, it is a Sun-synchronous satellite.

• Objective: Provide a holistic view of complex interplay between clouds, aerosols and radiation, yielding new insight into Earth’s radiation balance against the backdrop of the climate crisis.

• Orbit Type: Sun-synchronous 

• On-board Instruments: Atmospheric Lidar, cloud profiling radar, multispectral imager (MSI), and broad-band radiometer.

Relationship between Clouds, Aerosol and Earth’s Radiation Balance

• Clouds:  Along with aerosols, clouds play key role in Earth’s Heat Budget. 

• They can either cool or warm the Earth's surface by reflecting incoming sunlight or trapping outgoing infrared radiation.

• The extent of clouds' warming or cooling effect on Earth depends on their shape, location, altitude, water content, and particle size.

• Aerosols: These are tiny particles such as dust and pollutants suspended in atmosphere.

• Directly they reflect and absorb solar radiation and trap outgoing radiation. 

• And, indirectly they act as nuclei for cloud formation, which has a more substantial impact on the climate.

• Human activities like industrialization, agriculture, etc. significantly alter atmospheric aerosol concentrations, impacting regional climate patterns.