NASA is ready to launch satellites to measure CO2 on Earth's atmosphere

The US Aeronautics Agency (NASA) is in the final stages of preparing to launch the first satellite universe to perform the function of measuring carbon dioxide concentrations in the atmosphere.

The Carbon 2 Observation Satellite (OCO-2) has the same design as the brother COC-1 that was destroyed earlier in the February 2009 launch.

Under the plan, OCO-2 will be launched from Vandenberg air base in California with the mission to work in orbit 105km from the Earth's surface. After being launched into space, the OCO-2 will collect images of the global CO2 emission picture as well as CO ₂ absorption effects in oceans and forests.

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NASA wants OCO-2 to become a pioneering satellite for a squadron of satellites flying around the Earth every 99 minutes, creating an almost simultaneous range of observations on global concentrations of CO ₂ changes. OCO-2 is designed to be operated for at least two years.

Experts will use the information collected by the satellite, combined with data collected from ground observatories, airplanes and other satellites to provide a general assessment of emissions status and absorb CO ₂ .

Michael Freilich, director of NASA's Earth Science Division, said atmospheric CO ₂ plays an important role in the planet's energy balance and is key to climate change research. With OCO-2, NASA will have an important source of information for Earth observation.

According to measurements, in April, the average CO ₂ concentration while the first volume exceeded 400 million parts in the Northern Hemisphere, the highest level in the last 800,000 years.

Climate experts conclude that an increase in CO ₂ emissions from human activity, especially from the use of fossil fuels and deforestation, has disturbed the natural carbon cycle, causing temperatures to rise. high and causing climate change.

Currently, nearly half of the CO2 in the atmosphere is caused by human activity.