Why in the News?
The Trump administration seeks to end two NASA missions under the Orbiting Carbon Observatories (OCO) program, which monitor global carbon dioxide emissions and plant health.
About Orbiting Carbon Observatories (OCO) Program:
- Overview: A NASA Earth remote sensing initiative dedicated to monitoring atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO₂) from space.
- Objective: Designed to enhance understanding of climate change by precisely tracking CO₂ sources and sinks.
- Comprises three missions:
- OCO-1: Launched in 2009 but failed shortly after launch.
- OCO-2: Launched in July 2014 as a replacement.
- OCO-3: Installed on the International Space Station in May 2019.
Key Features:
- Precision Measurement: Provides high-resolution global CO₂ data and maps of plant photosynthesis.
- Dual Capability: Measures CO₂ levels and solar-induced chlorophyll fluorescence to assess photosynthesis.
- Applications: Detects drought, forecasts food shortages, identifies carbon sinks/sources, supports crop planning.
- Global Reach: Tracks CO₂ distribution over continents, oceans, and remote ecosystems like Amazon and boreal forests.
- Major Discoveries: Amazon rainforest now emits more CO₂ than it absorbs; boreal forests identified as major carbon sinks.
- Policy Relevance: Supplies key data for climate treaties and greenhouse gas reporting.
| [UPSC 2019] For the measurement/estimation of which of the following are satellite images/remote sensing data used?
1. Chlorophyll content in the vegetation of a specific location 2. Greenhouse gas emissions from rice paddies of a specific location 3. Land surface temperatures of a specific location Select the correct answer using the code given below. Options: (a) 1 only (b) 2 and 3 only (c) 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3* |
