New Earth Science Exploration Announced By NASA Despite Budget Cut Threats
NASA is brewing new plans to roll out a completely new kind of Earth science mission. This is aimed at measuring vegetation and greenhouse gasses, a couple of important aspects of the planet's health.
The mission would need the help of Geostationary Carbon Cycle Observatory (GeoCARB), a satellite, which will supply gas measurements such as methane and carbon dioxide in real time. The satellite also monitors planet health along the Americas. The main thought is to tackle a better understanding on the natural carbon cycles of earth and also get deeper understanding on how the greenhouse gas levels are controlled in the atmosphere.
However, this is not the perfect time to make the announcement as speculations about NASA's Earth science division being threatened budget-wise surfaces. US President Donald Trump's advisor, Bob Walker, just expressed that the division might face defunding so that funds can be pointed towards National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. As of this writing, it is still unclear if the GeoCARB mission will be affected or not.
The plan is to have GeoCARB orbit 22,000 miles above the Americas. It will calculate daily carbon dioxide concentrations as well as methane and carbon monoxide. These are all potent greenhouse gases that contain heat within the Earth's atmosphere. The satelite will also figure out how vegetation is stressed in major parts of the Americas.
The plants' health can be determined by solar-induced fluorescence, a type of light that plants will emit after absorbing the Sun's energy, ergo photosynthesis happens. Researchers can find out how fast or slow plants are glowing based on how much light is produced.
By understanding how vegetation is doing, scientists can learn more about these natural controllers of carbon on Earth. GeoCARB will help these researchers study carbon sinks and better document how plants exchange carbon for other types of gases.
Mission cost will be $166 million spread over 5 years. Fears are rising about it not being met due to the defunding concern. It will take a while to confirm if this mission pushes through.
