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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Equipped with four state-of-the-art instruments, EarthCARE makes a range of different measurements that together provide unique insights into the complex interactions between clouds, aerosols and radiation.
The cloud profiling radar is a 94 GHz cloud radar with Doppler capability. It provides vertical profiles of clouds to gain detailed insight into cloud structure.
The atmospheric lidar provides profiles of aerosols, thin clouds and the top of thick clouds. It operates at an ultraviolet wavelength of 355nm and has a high-spectral resolution receiver and depolarisation channel.
The broadband radiometer measures Earth’s reflected solar radiation and outgoing infrared radiation. It makes both shortwave and longwave measurements, with three fixed viewing directions pointing fore, nadir and aft.
The multispectral imager provides images to set the overall physical context for the active instruments.
Measurements of the same atmospheric column are made by the four instruments at the same time.