NASA Launches Tiny Weather Satellites

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NASA has launched a pair of tiny satellites for a program called PREFIRE (Polar Radiant Energy in the Far-InfraRed Experiment). Their purpose is “to measure a little-studied portion of the radiant energy emitted by Earth, for clues about sea ice loss, ice-sheet melting, and a warming Arctic – the region that behaves like our planet’s thermostat, as it regulates the climate by venting excess energy received in the tropics.”

The Coldest Place In The World –Minus 92 Degrees F

Scientists have been very interested in the rate at which the two melting rates of the Arctic and Antarctic areas have been occurring because this is believed to cause rising oceans and ocean temperatures that can lead to larger storms. The NOS reports that “When warming temperatures gradually melt sea ice over time, fewer bright surfaces are available to reflect sunlight back into the atmosphere. More solar energy is absorbed at the surface and ocean temperatures rise.”

Arctic 100 Degree Temperatures

Even without the satellites, the information suggests that the temperature in the Arctic region is rising. According to the US, the temperature in the Siberian Verkhoyansk topped 100 degrees F in June 2020. At the same time, that is a record, temperatures in the region top 70 degrees in most years.

The PREFIRE satellites “will measure the amount of heat Earth radiates into space from two of the coldest, most remote regions on the planet. Data from the PREFIRE mission will help researchers better predict how Earth’s ice, seas, and weather will change in a warming world.”

While the data is useful, perhaps on an academic basis, little evidence has been provided that it will trigger any significant action to slow the melting and its effects.