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PREFIRE MISSION

18th May, 2024

PREFIRE MISSION

Source: IndianExpress

Disclaimer: Copyright infringement not intended.

Context

  • NASA's upcoming mission, PREFIRE (Polar Radiant Energy in the Far-InfraRed Experiment), aims to fill critical gaps in understanding how the Earth's polar regions, the Arctic and Antarctic, radiate heat into space and influence global climate.
  • The mission will use twin CubeSats, small shoebox-sized satellites, to study these phenomena, with the first satellite set to launch on May 22, 2024, from New Zealand.

Details

  • Second Satellite Launch:Two weeks after the first.
  • Launch Vehicle:Electron launch vehicle.
  • Instruments:Equipped with thermal infrared spectrometers, each weighing less than 6 pounds (3 kilograms).
  • Orbits:Asynchronous near-polar orbits, overlapping every few hours near the poles for maximum coverage.
  • The CubeSat platform costs less than a full-size satellite while providing critical climate data.

Heat Distribution

  • Energy Absorption:Earth absorbs energy from the Sun at the tropics, which is then moved toward the poles by air and water currents.
  • Far-Infrared Wavelengths:About 60% of the heat energy that flows out to space in far-infrared wavelengths has never been systematically measured.

Objectives

  • Climate Model Accuracy:
    • Heat Loss Measurement:Reveal the full spectrum of heat loss from Earth’s polar regions.
    • Improve Predictions:Data will improve climate models and predictions of climate change and sea level rise.
  • Scientific Achievements:
    • New Information:Provide new data on how the atmosphere and ice influence heat radiation from the polar regions.
    • Arctic Warming:Help understand why the Arctic has warmed more than 2.5 times faster than the global average since the 1970s.
    • Heat Emission Efficiency:Better knowledge of how efficiently far-infrared heat is emitted by snow, sea ice, and the influence of clouds.
    • Future Predictions:Enhance predictions of heat exchange changes and their effects on ice sheet melting, atmospheric temperatures, and global weather.

Importance of Polar Regions

  • Global Climate Balance:
    • Energy Balance:The balance between the energy received from the Sun and the energy radiated out into space determines Earth’s temperature and climate.
    • Polar Influence:Polar regions play a crucial role in this energy balance and, consequently, in shaping global climate.
  • Impact on Global Weather:
    • Climate and Weather:Changes in the polar regions can significantly affect global weather patterns, leading to extreme storms, flooding, and coastal erosion.
    • Scientific Insight:Understanding polar heat loss helps predict and mitigate these impacts.

Category

Arctic

Antarctic

Location

Northern Hemisphere, centered around the Arctic Ocean

Southern Hemisphere, centered around the continent of Antarctica

Geography

Ocean surrounded by land (Canada, Russia, Greenland, USA (Alaska), Norway, Sweden, Finland, Iceland)

Continent surrounded by the Southern Ocean

Ice Coverage

Sea ice varies seasonally, with significant melting in summer and refreezing in winter

Permanent ice sheet covering the continent, with ice shelves like Ross and Filchner-Ronne

Temperature Range

-40°C in winter to 0°C in summer

-60°C in the interior in winter to around -20°C on the coast in summer

Precipitation

Low, classified as a polar desert, most falls as snow

Extremely low, the driest continent, most falls as snow

Flora and Fauna

Polar bears, Arctic foxes, caribou, seals, migratory birds, tundra vegetation like mosses, lichens, and shrubs

Penguins, seals, seabirds (albatross), limited vegetation (mosses, lichens, algae)

Marine Life

Whales, walruses, fish species, rich marine biodiversity

Krill, whales, seals, penguins, rich marine ecosystem with many endemic species

Presence of Penguins

Absent

Native, including species like Emperor and Adélie penguins

Presence of Polar Bears

Native

Absent

Terrestrial Mammals

Present, including species like reindeer (caribou), Arctic foxes, musk oxen, and wolves

Virtually absent; some seals and penguins are considered semi-terrestrial

Tundra Lines

Extensive tundra with mosses, lichens, and dwarf shrubs in areas like Alaska, Canada, and Siberia

No true tundra; limited terrestrial vegetation restricted to mosses, lichens, and algae

Human Presence

Indigenous communities (Inuit, Saami), multiple research stations

No indigenous population, temporary research stations under the Antarctic Treaty System

Climate Change Impact

Rapid warming, twice the global average rate, leading to ice melt and permafrost thawing

West Antarctica experiencing warming and ice loss, East Antarctica relatively stable or gaining ice

Research Focus

Climate change, ecology, sustainable development

Glaciology, meteorology, astronomy, biology

Role in Climate Regulation

Reflects sunlight (albedo effect), stores freshwater in ice

Reflects sunlight (albedo effect), stores vast amounts of freshwater in ice

Global Significance

Influences global weather patterns, sea level rise, and biodiversity

Affects global sea level rise, climate models, and weather patterns

Primary Research Bodies

Arctic Council, National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC)

Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR), British Antarctic Survey (BAS)

Sources:

IndianExpress

PRACTICE QUESTION

Q.  By addressing the current gaps in polar energy measurements, PREFIRE is expected to make significant contributions to our understanding of global climate dynamics and the specific challenges posed by rapid changes in the polar regions. Discuss. (250 words)