Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, Ocean Ecosystem (PACE) mission

• NASA is set to launch the Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, Ocean Ecosystem (PACE) mission in 2024, with the aim of enhancing our understanding of Earth’s atmosphere.
• Advanced polarimeters will be employed to study the interplay of light, aerosols, and clouds, contributing to a deeper comprehension of their impact on air quality and climate.
• PACE will orbit Earth every two days.
• The mission’s data will have practical applications, such as improving air quality forecasts and informing policy decisions.

 PAYLOADS

• The Ocean Color Instrument (OCI), the primary science instrument for PACE, is designed to measure the ocean’s color across a spectrum from ultraviolet to shortwave infrared.
• In addition, PACE will feature two polarimeters – the Spectro-polarimeter for Planetary Exploration (SPEXone) and the Hyper Angular Research Polarimeter (HARP2).
  • NASA explains that the collaboration between SPEXone and HARP2 will provide complementary spectral and angular sampling, polarimetric accuracy, and spatial coverage

ABOUT AEROSOLS

• Aerosols — tiny airborne particles such as sea salt, smoke, dust, and pollutants — play a critical role in shaping our planet’s climate.
• They scatter and absorb sunlight, influencing how much solar energy reaches the Earth’s surface.
• Moreover, these particles are central to cloud formation, affecting weather patterns and climate dynamics.