Edinburgh experts lead mission to monitor carbon dioxide in space
Edinburgh scientists will lead new British and French space mission to monitor carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
The UK Space Agency has provided new funding for the joint project, called Microcarb, which see the launch of the first European satellite dedicated to measuring atmospheric CO2 from all around the world – the main greenhouse gas caused by human activity.
National Centre for Earth Observation experts at the universities of Edinburgh and Leicester will translate atmospheric CO2 observation into maps that show carbon sources and sinks, while the National Physical Laboratory, in Teddington, will use the data to understand how instrument and observation aspects contribute to the data use.
Dr Paul Bate, chief executive of the UK Space Agency, and Laurence Monnoyer-smith, director of Sustainable Development of the French space agency, CNES, signed an implementation arrangement for the Microcarb mission at COP26 in Glasgow today. The UK will provide a further £3.9 million for the mission, due to launch in early 2023.
Microcarb’s data will contribute to global efforts to measure how much carbon is being emitted by natural processes and how much by human activities. This information will help inform decisions on tackling climate change.
Dr Bate said: “Over half of the critical measurements on climate change rely on satellite data. Having more accurate knowledge of how much carbon the world’s forests and oceans absorb will give policymakers the reliable information they need to take decisions on tackling climate change.
“This exciting partnership with CNES showcases the skills of the UK space sector in designing and building complex space instruments and cutting-edge satellites.”