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Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem (PACE)
Status:
Current
Mission Category:
Earth Systematic Missions Program
Launch Date: February 8, 2024
Launch Location: Cape Canaveral Space Force Station
The Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem (PACE) mission makes global ocean color measurements to provide extended data records on ocean ecology and global biogeochemistry (e.g., carbon cycle) along with polarimetry measurements to provide extended data records on clouds and aerosols. PACE is advancing the assessment of ocean health by measuring the distribution of phytoplankton, tiny plants and algae that sustain the marine food web. It is also continuing systematic records of key atmospheric variables associated with air quality and Earth's climate.
PACE's OCI instrument is the most advanced for observing ocean color in NASA's history, viewing a very broad spectrum from 350 to 885 nanometer (nm) wavelengths at 5 nm intervals – making it hyperspectral. The range that PACE's instruments observes includes the UV (350-400 nm), visible (400-700 nm), and near infrared (700-885 nm), as well as several shortwave infrared bands. Thus, the OCI provides an unprecedented view of the ocean without the "blind spots" of previous sensors.
PACE is providing a combination of atmospheric and oceanic observations to benefit society in the areas of water resources, disaster impacts, ecological forecasting, human health, and air quality. Users at local, state, federal and international agencies as well as the general public will be able to apply data from PACE to make more informed and robust decisions about their activities. PACE is offering an opportunity to better monitor fisheries, identify harmful algal blooms, and observe changes in marine resources.
Key Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem Facts
| Mission/Portal Page: | https://science.nasa.gov/mission/pace/ |
|---|---|
| Launch Vehicle: | SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket |
| Altitude:Distance from sea level. | 676.5km |
| Inclination: | 98° |
| Origination: | NASA |
| Instruments: |
Ocean Color Instrument (OCI) SPEXone Polarimeter HARP2 Polarimeter |
| Project Scientist(s): |
Jeremy Werdell |
| Deputy Project Scientist(s): |
Antonio Mannino Brian Cairns |
| Program Scientist(s): |
Laura Lorenzoni |
| Science Team: |
PACE Science & Applications Team: https://pace.oceansciences.org/science_applications_team.htm |
Science Goals:
- Extend key systematic ocean biological, ecological, and biogeochemical climate data records and cloud and aerosol climate records.
- Make new global measurements of ocean color to improve our understanding of the carbon cycle and ocean ecosystem responses to a changing climate.
- Collect global observations of aerosol and cloud properties, focusing on reducing the largest uncertainties in climate and radiative forcing models of the Earth system.
- Improve our understanding of how aerosols influence ocean biogeochemical cycles and ecosystems and how ocean biological and photochemical processes affect the atmosphere.