The European Space Agency (ESA) is Europe’s gateway to space. Its mission is to shape the development of Europe’s space capability and ensure that investment in space continues to deliver benefits to the citizens of Europe and the world.
Find out more about space activities in our 23 Member States, and understand how ESA works together with their national agencies, institutions and organisations.
Exploring our Solar System and unlocking the secrets of the Universe
Go to topicProtecting life and infrastructure on Earth and in orbit
Go to topicUsing space to benefit citizens and meet future challenges on Earth
Go to topicMaking space accessible and developing the technologies for the future
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ESA’s EarthCARE mission carries a suite of four instruments to answer critical scientific questions related to the role that clouds and aerosols play in reflecting incident solar radiation back out to space and trapping infrared radiation emitted from Earth’s surface.
The satellite’s multispectral imager instrument provides an overview in multiple wavelengths to set the scene. The cloud profiling radar detects vertical motion within clouds – providing details on their internal dynamics. Its atmospheric lidar detects the top of clouds and provides profiles of the atmosphere with information on aerosols while its broadband radiometer measures reflected sunlight and heat radiated from Earth.
The data generated by EarthCARE's instruments contribute significantly to advancing our understanding of the interactions between clouds, aerosols and radiation in Earth’s atmosphere.