CryoSat-2 satellite examines the thickness of the ice regions at 2 poles

Making an artificial satellite for 3 years is clearly an ambitious task. Therefore, the decision to reconstruct CryoSat satellite and restore its program is also an ambitious decision. The restoration of CryoSat is progressing well.

With over 85 improved details, CryoSat-2 will replace CryoSat that was lost after the failed launch in October 2005.

The changing climate has made the ice layers thin, the need to understand the extent of shrinkage of the ice is becoming more urgent than the time that CryoSat was chosen to develop in 1999.

The International Polar Year 2007 -2008 will focus on resources to measure the environment in the two polar regions. The loss of the satellite CryoSat has hindered the program from contributing to this effort, but the use of CryoSat-2 will benefit from the International Polar Year's action program.

Although the impact of climate change is expected to have a significant impact on the polar regions, it is difficult to determine what effect it has on polar ice sheets. Recent studies of the shrinkage of the Arctic sea ice and the melting of Antarctic ice caps are well known to the public. On the other hand, there are also many studies on the thickening of the Arctic ice sheets.

The simulation of CryoSat satellite in orbit.
(Photo Sciencedaily)

CryoSat-2 , when it was launched in orbit in 2009, will measure the change in the thickness of the ice layers at sea as well as on land to provide final evidence of whether or not there is ice blocks are shrinking . Moreover, due to the importance of ice in the earth's climate system, the forecast of future earth climate and the measurement of sea level will be based on the data collected by CryoSat-2.

Since CryoSat-2 has been restarted, a lot of work has been done and this project has overcome an important milestone that is a review of the design model through which all changes in design has been studied and scrutinized. Major changes are also considered carefully. One of the most prominent major changes is that the new satellite will carry backup equipment for the main equipment on it. This device is called the SIRAL.

The altimeter radar has been used in space exploration programs before but the SIRAL device has a different point. Its complex design contains improved resolution devices and observation capabilities to meet the requirements of accurate measurement of icebergs but still ensures the ability to examine the surface of large blocks of ice. The correct way to detect small changes.

As a result of dual SIRAL main devices and integrated interface devices as well as reliability improvements, satellites also have a solid effect . For example, the SIRAL backup system will be kept warm when it is turned off. The energy of an extra heater will be provided by increasing the size of the satellite's power supply. A few minor defects in the original design have been repaired and some other changes are needed to replace outdated equipment. In total, there are more than 85 replaced devices, of which 30-40% are changes in control software to make the satellite easier to operate.

Richard Francis, project manager CryoSat-2, said: 'We are rushing to complete CryoSat-2. Since the failed launch, we have quickly reorganized so that once we are allowed to proceed with CryoSat-2, we know what to do. Our research team has made a lot of progress in the last year with flying devices already delivered. So far, everything has gone well and we hope this will continue so that by the end of 2007 the CryoSat satellite will be completed. '

Along with the construction of the new bodyguard, a series of experiments related to this field were conducted in the Arctic. The first experimental program was named Arctic Arctic exploration , which is part of the International Polar Five Action Program.

The two explorers of this program Alain Hubert and Dixie Dansercoer departed for the long arctic journey of 110. Each person towed a 130 kg sleigh including food and necessary equipment, two houses. This brave explorer will walk from an island off Siberia to the Greenland island, a route no one has ever taken. With the support of the CryoSat-2 project, they will conduct measurements of the thickness of the ice sheets throughout their journey. The updated information about their trip will be posted on the website http://www.arcticarc.org.

These measurements will be extremely useful for assessing the technique used to convert CryoSat-2 measurement data into accurate data on the thickness of the ice sheets. Because the direct measurement of ice blocks in the Arctic sea ice is very difficult to implement, the European aviation agency is happy to benefit from this.

The weight of the layers of ice that covered the ice made the sea ice sink lower. CryoSat-2's evaluation of the thickness of the ice sheet will depend on the measurement of the floating part of the ice sheets. Everyone knows that 7/8 of an iceberg is below its surface so if you know how high it is, it will be easy to calculate the rest. The calculation of the overlapping ice sheets is the same. Radar waves will pass through these ice layers, except that the floating part is counted, eventually the thickness of the ice layers will be calculated.

Data collected by Hubert and Dansercoe during their journey will contribute to the evaluation of programs that will be used to assess the number of ice sheets during the lifetime of the CryoSat satellite. 2. As part of the CryoSat-2 evaluation campaign, scientists will visit the Svalbard Islands in mid-April to conduct research in the CryoSat-2 evaluation experiment program. This program will use ASIRAS technology, an aerial dedicated version for SIRAL devices to measure the properties of ice and snow.

The Kiet