In addition to weather predictionthe weather models can also help understand and predict how satellites respond to weather eventslike the storms, cyclones, etc., that are below them.
The GRACE mission and climate change
Weather-Induced Satellite Orbit Disturbances: Their Prediction
Researchers of the Atmosphere and Earth System Research Institute (INAR) of the University of Helsinki have found that modern weather models can accurately predict the energy that the Earth emits and reflects back into space, directly affecting the movements of low Earth orbit satellites (Low Earth-orbiting, LEO).
Taking advantage of these models, the researchers obtained information about How LEO satellites respond to weather events that lie below, such as tropical cyclones with high, reflective clouds. The results were published in the Journal of Geophysical Research in April.
In the study, the researchers used numerical weather models. These are sophisticated computer simulators that predict future atmospheric conditions based on current observations and laws of physics.
“Numerical weather models not only simulate weather patterns but also calculate various parameters, including Earth’s energy emissions and reflections under various weather conditions.
“By analyzing these simulations, we try to understand how changes in weather, such as cloud cover and storms, influence the movement of satellites, affecting their ability to fulfill their intended functions.“, says Sanam Motlaghzadeh, lead author of the study and doctoral researcher. in the INAR.
Enhanced satellite operations
The importance of the findings lies in their potential to improve satellite tracking and controlimproving the efficiency and reliability of satellite operations.
“Understanding how weather affects satellites also improves the accuracy of satellite measurements used in climate studies. These findings address a critical challenge in satellite data reliability, namely determining the precise orbits of satellites upon which atmospheric events have an effect.“, Motlaghzadeh explains.
Satellites play a crucial role in tracking vegetation, monitoring water resources and observing glacier evolution using various measurement techniques. These measurements, including the capture of images and measurements of the gravity field and height, are essential to study climate change and its impacts.
A better understanding of satellite movements can also assist in weather tracking and disaster management. The use of advanced meteorological models can further refine satellite-based measurements, facilitating more effective study and mitigation of environmental problems.
“Understanding how satellites interact with Earth’s atmosphere offers valuable information about our planet and how it changes over time. The findings contribute to more precise satellite monitoring of terrestrial water resources and, therefore, food security “says Motlaghzadeh.
Reference
S. Motlaghzadeh et al, Weather‐Induced Satellite Orbit Perturbations, Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres (2024). DOI: 10.1029/2023JD040009
This entry was published in News on Apr 20, 2024 by Francisco Martín León
