Verifying the view from orbit through a massive California field campaign
To ensure NASA's new PACE satellite is reading Earth correctly, scientists recently launched an expansive mission across sea and sky. This video follows the PACE-PAX campaign as researchers use aircraft and ships to validate orbital data on our atmosphere and oceans.
During September, the PACE-PAXS (Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem mission Postlaunch Airborne eXperiment) campaign deployed multiple vessels and aircraft to various locations in California, including Marina, Santa Barbara, and the Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards. The mission's objective was to cross-reference data collected by the PACE satellite with ground and airborne observations.
The PACE mission, launched in February 2024, focuses on measuring variables like cloud formation, air pollutants, and microscopic phytoplankton. By studying how particles like smoke and dust influence cloud formation and planet temperature, the mission aims to better monitor air quality, ocean health, and the impacts of climate change.
Source: PACE Scientists Take to the Sea and Air (and Really High Air)
