9 Ways Technologies in Space Can Help on Earth
One of the greatest threats our planet is facing today is climate change. Millions around the world are feeling impacts as temperatures rise, ice caps melt and extreme weather events occur. But here’s the good news: Space technology is also playing a critical role in the battle against climate change. High overhead, satellites are constantly collecting data on our planet’s health, enabling satellite operators to follow changes and scientists to make informed decisions about how best to protect our environment.
From monitoring carbon dioxide levels to estimating natural disasters on earth, space-based tools have grown into crucial weapons in our fight against global warming. They gather stupendous quantities of data every single day, and they offer us the equivalent of a bird’s-eye view of what is happening to our planet. Scientists, governments and environmentalists rely on this information to study climate trends, preserve endangered habitats and craft solutions for a sustainable future.
In this list, we’re going to delve into nine game-changing space technologies that are helping in the battle against climate change. You’ll explore how satellites follow deforestation, measure sea levels, watch air quality and more. Let’s delve into the intriguing crossroads of space exploration and environmentalism.
Carbon Dioxide Monitoring Satellites
One of the most vital space technologies in the climate war are satellites engineered to monitor levels of carbon dioxide (CO2) in our atmosphere. These dedicated spacecraft monitor how much CO2 is present in various parts of the world and how it circulates through the atmosphere.
NASA’s Orbiting Carbon Observatory (OCO-2 and OCO-3) satellites fly over Earth throughout the day, capturing snapshots of where carbon dioxide is growing and shrinking in the atmosphere. They can detect CO2 at levels of parts per million, which has helped scientists figure out where greenhouse gases are being emitted and absorbed.
How They Help:
- Designation of significant carbon-emitting sources worldwide
- Monitor how trees and oceans take up CO2 from the atmosphere
- Give data to challenge countries’ claims in court that they have been cutting emissions
- Aid scientists in predicting climate models of the future from current trends
The satellites have turned up some surprising findings, like the fact that tropical forests absorb more carbon than estimated before or that certain urban areas produce far more emissions than governments had reported. This hard data is needed to craft effective climate policies and hold polluters responsible.
Earth Observation Systems to Track Deforestation
Forests are the planet’s natural system for removing carbon dioxide from the air, and without them, billions of tons of emissions escape into our atmosphere each year. When these forests are cut down, however, we not only lose the ability of the trees to absorb carbon in future years but also release stored carbon back into the atmosphere as wood is burned or decomposes. EO systems from space are now valuable assets in monitoring deforestation in near-real time.
Satellites such as Landsat, Sentinel-2 and Planet Labs’ smaller satellites take high-resolution pictures of Earth’s forests. These images can help spot illegal logging, track forest fires and measure how rapidly forests are vanishing in disparate regions.
Key Capabilities:
- Daily tracking of forest cover in remote rainforests, such as the Amazon restricts rampant deforestation efforts
- Illegal logging is detected in 24-48 hours
- Assessment of forest health and biodiversity
- Monitoring of reforestation and regeneration activities
The platform utilizes satellite data to offer free, near-real-time information about global forest changes. NGOs, indigenous communities and governments rely on this for a rapid response to threats like deforestation. Such as when illegal logging is found to be taking place in protected areas, and teams can be sent in to prevent any lasting damage from being done.
Sea Level Rise Measurement Technology
Sea level rise poses a threat to coastal communities everywhere from small island states to major metropolises like Miami and Mumbai. Space technology is offering ever more precise measurements of how fast our oceans are rising and which areas are at greatest risk.
Satellites in the Jason series and Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich measure ocean height at an astonishing level of accuracy using a technique called radar altimetry — to within a few centimeters. These satellites beam radio waves to the surface and calculate how long it takes for the signal to bounce back.
Critical Measurements:
- Sea level rise (the global average rate of which is now about 3.4 millimeters annually)
- Regional differences in sea level rise
- Circulation in the ocean and the tides driving coastal flooding
- Rate of Greenland and Antarctic ice sheet melting
This information is critical for coastal cities to prepare for the future. Engineers rely on satellite measurements to help them design better flood defenses, urban planners identify where to build new developments and governments map out which communities will need to move in coming decades. Satellite-based early-warning systems can also forecast the storm surges and coastal flooding that accompany typhoons, again saving lives and property.
Weather and Storm Predicting Satellites
Weather is getting more extreme and unpredictable because of climate change. Hurricanes are growing stronger, droughts are getting longer, floods more severe. Geostationary and polar-orbiting weather satellites offer us the capability to monitor these deadly weather patterns and to forecast them before they ever hit you.
The GOES series, for Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites, hovers 22,000 miles over the same region of Earth all the time. They can see hurricanes forming, trace their paths and measure their strength. Orbiting the Earth from its north to south pole, polar-orbiting satellites such as NOAA’s weather satellites offer total coverage of the atmosphere.
Weather Monitoring Functions:
- Tracking the power and path of hurricanes as they form
- Detection of drought stress at its onset by measuring soil moisture levels
- Forecast of violent thunderstorms, tornadoes and floods
- Heat wave and cold snap monitoring
The satellites have made weather predictions much more accurate. With good forecasting, we can predict hurricanes with enough lead time to safely evacuate coastal populations. Farmers use weather satellite information for planting and harvesting, minimizing crop damage. Disaster management squads make advance preparation for emergency helping in reducing loss of life and property.
Systems for Monitoring Ice Sheet and Glacier Change
The ice sheets of the world in Antarctica and Greenland store enough frozen water to lift global sea levels more than 200 feet should they all melt. The worst case will not come to pass any time soon, but the huge ice formations are melting more quickly than at any time in recorded history. Space technology enables us to monitor precisely how much ice we are losing and at what rate.
CryoSat-2 and ICESat-2 satellites do just that — measuring the thickness of ice and changes in elevation with incredible precision using advanced lasers & radar. Across all of the ice sheets, they can detect changes at a resolution as fine as a few millimeters.
Ice Monitoring Capabilities:
- Sounding and volume change of ice sheets
- Global monitoring of glacier calving rates in mountain ranges on Earth
- Monitoring of polar seasonal sea ice cover
- Observation of meltwater ponds on the ice
| Region | Ice Sheet Loss Rate (Billions of Tons per Year) | Sea Level Rise Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| Greenland | 270 | 0.77 mm/year |
| Antarctica | 150 | 0.42 mm/year |
| Mountain Glaciers | 220 | 0.61 mm/year |
This data is used by scientists to refine their models of the climate, and so make better predictions about how much sea level rise might be in store. And the information also elucidates how melting ice influences ocean currents and marine ecosystems, which in turn affect global patterns of climate.
Air Quality Monitoring from Space
Air pollution, after all, is more than a local issue — it’s also contributing to the instability of the global climate. Pollutants such as nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide and particulate matter both cause global warming and damage your health. Sensors from space also monitor air quality across the planet, showing pollution hotspots and changes over time.
Sentinel-5P satellite of the European Space Agency specializes in atmospheric observation. It is a sensor that observes different pollutants and aerosols in Earth’s atmosphere, producing daily maps of air quality across the globe. NASA’s TEMPO (Tropospheric Emissions: Monitoring of Pollution) instrument, launched in 2023, provides more detailed measurements still over North America hourly.
Air Quality Tracking Benefits:
- Detection of main sources of pollution in urban and industrial regions
- Wildfire smoke tracking and air quality effects
- Dust storms and volcanic ash tracking
- Quantifying methane leaks from oil and gas production facilities
Following the lockdowns imposed as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, these satellites tracked significant changes in the air quality of large cities, demonstrating that human activities strongly influence pollution levels. This tangible proof helped persuade policymakers and the public that cutting emissions really does work. Air quality information from space can also be used to issue warnings when pollution reaches hazardous levels and threatens the most vulnerable people.
Solar Radiation and Energy Balance Satellite
Knowing how much energy Earth receives from the sun and keeps vs. reflects back into outer space is basic climate science. This energy balance dictates our planet’s temperature. And when greenhouse gases trap more heat, the balance is upset, and temperatures climb.
Satellites including instruments on the CERES (Clouds and the Earth’s Radiant Energy System) fleet are equipped to take in incoming solar radiation, reflected sunlight and thermally emitted infrared radiation from the Earth. These precise readings help scientists quantify exactly how climate change is impacting our planet’s energy balance.
Energy Balance Measurements:
- Total solar radiation received by the atmosphere of the Earth
- Proportion of sunlight reflected by clouds, ice and the Earth’s surface
- Outgoing thermal radiation from Earth to space
- Variations in Earth’s temperature and albedo with time
This data reveals important trends. As Arctic ice melts, for example, it uncovers darker ocean water that absorbs heat instead of reflecting it. This sets up a feedback loop that compounds the warming. This understanding helps scientists construct more accurate climate models, which are used to predict tipping points — the point at which climate change may become irreversible.
Ocean Temperature and Circulation Monitoring
Oceans cover 70 percent of the earth’s surface, and are a giant thermostat for global weather. They soak up some 90 percent of the excess heat created by greenhouse gases and store vast quantities of carbon dioxide. Space technology allows us to monitor ocean temperatures, track currents and learn more about how oceans are responding to climate change.
A variety of techniques are used on satellites to measure sea surface temperature, including infrared and microwave. They can sense temperature changes as slight as one-tenth of a degree Celsius over huge expanses of sea. More satellites monitor ocean currents through small differences in sea surface height.
Ocean Monitoring Applications:
- Monitoring El Niño and La Niña events
- Ocean heat content and warming rates
- Identifying frequent marine heat waves that harm coral reefs
- Observation of changes in ocean circulation influencing global climate
Researchers found that in recent decades the ocean has warmed faster than they originally thought. This heating has an impact on marine life, from tiny plankton to gigantic whales, and is upending food chains and fisheries. It also powers stronger hurricanes and helps cause sea levels to rise through thermal expansion — water expands as it warms. By interpreting satellite data we come to comprehend these complex changes and can predict how they will affect both ecosystems and human societies.
Vegetation and Agricultural Monitoring Systems
Climate change is both caused by and impacts agriculture. Farming releases greenhouse gases, but plants also draw carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Droughts, floods and shifting climate trends impact crop yields and food security. Satellites monitor the health of vegetation and track agricultural practices, helping farmers adjust to shifting conditions.
Satellites such as Sentinel-2 and MODIS (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) work in multiple spectral bands to evaluate the health of plants across millions of acres. They can identify the initial markers of drought stress, pest attacks and disease outbreaks before they appear with our visible eye.
Agricultural Monitoring Features:
- Crop health and growth rates assessment
- Monitoring hydrological drought using vegetation indices
- Supervision on the irrigation systems and water use efficiency
- Quantification of carbon storage in agricultural systems
Satellite data can also be used for precision agriculture, to help farmers avoid waste and emissions. Because they know precisely which fields require water, fertilizer or pesticide, farmers use resources only where needed — and minimize chemical runoff and fuel consumption. Satellite data also allows researchers to develop crop varieties more capable of withstanding changing climate conditions, and determine the most effective farming practices for carbon sequestration — storing carbon in soils instead of releasing it into the atmosphere.
The Interconnected Picture: How This Technology Fits Together
What makes these space technologies truly potent is how they work in conjunction. Climate change is a multifaceted problem with many moving parts, and no one satellite or measurement can tell the entire story. In order to build a complete picture of the changing climate on Earth, scientists weave together information from different sources.
For instance, OCO-2 carbon dioxide measurements are correlated with Landsat deforestation data to know how much forest loss adds to CO2 in the atmosphere. This temperature information is added to measurements from ice sheets in ice-sheet models, creating more accurate projections of sea level rise. Air quality sensors are teamed with weather satellites to monitor how pollution influences cloud formation and patterns of rainfall.
This holistic approach, now termed Earth System Science, analyses our planet as one interconnected system. With space technology, we have the global view of these connections and are able to understand how changes in one part of the globe can impact others.
Real-World Impact Stories
So it’s not just that these technologies are collecting data — they’re literally helping people, changing their lives. In Indonesia, satellite-based fire detection networks helped build response to fires within hours and have spared peatlands that store incredible amounts of carbon. Pacific island nations bring sea level data to give them bargaining power for climate action at international conferences, with evidence of the existential threat their countries face.
In California, satellite data on forest health enabled officials to focus fire prevention in areas at high risk of wildfires, thus saving communities. Bangladeshi farmers are given forecasts of drought based on satellite data used to schedule planting in an effort to enhance crop yields despite altered rainfall patterns.
International climate accords such as the Paris Agreement lean heavily on satellite data to confirm that countries are adhering to their emissions reductions pledges. This “trust but verify” could not exist without the transparency of space technology.
The Future of Climate Action
Next generation climate-monitoring satellites are expected to have even greater capabilities. The next satellite in NASA’s Earth System Observatory will provide a daily map of the planet’s water levels. The European Space Agency keeps growing its Copernicus program, with satellite missions to encompass various aspects of Earth observation.
Private companies are stepping up, too. Upstarts are deploying constellations of small satellites offering daily or even hourly coverage of targeted areas. Some businesses are working on satellites that measure the greenhouse gas emissions from individual factories and power plants, opening a new category of accountability for polluters.
Satellite data is increasingly being put to use with the aid of artificial intelligence and machine learning. Computer algorithms can process millions of images in short order, finding changes that would take human analysts years to pick out. These instruments help detect illegal logging, monitor wildlife populations, predict crop failures and much more.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How do satellites detect invisible gases, such as carbon dioxide?
A: They do it by having satellites with spectrometers that look at sunlight as it passes through the atmosphere. Various gases absorb certain wavelengths of light, and the result is a distinct “fingerprint” that satellites can see and measure.
Q: Can anyone get their hands on climate data from satellites?
A: Yes! The vast majority of data collected by government satellites (NASA, ESA, NOAA) is freely accessible to anyone. Sites including NASA’s Earthdata, the Copernicus Data Hub and Google Earth Engine offer satellite imagery and climate information to look at.
Q: How trustworthy are measurements from satellites compared with ground-based sensors?
A: Satellite measurements are incredibly accurate, and they’re calibrated frequently with ground sensors. Ground sensors allow better detection at smaller scales, but in contrast satellites are able to provide global coverage and continuous monitoring of broad areas.
Q: Are these satellites only for scientists, or can anyone use this information?
A: Lots of people use satellite data! Farmers monitor crop health, sailors gauge ocean conditions, hikers follow wildfires, city planners determine urban heat islands and environmentalists track pollution. This sort of data is available to anyone, through many apps and websites.
Q: How long can climate-monitoring satellites last?
A: The great majority of Earth observation satellites have a functioning life between 5 and 15 years, but there is more than one exceeding design lifetime. Space agencies are planning overlapping missions to maintain a constant stream of data. For instance, as one Landsat satellite nears the end of its mission a next-generation satellite is already orbiting.
Q: Are there enough satellites in place to keep an eye on climate change?
A: Although we have dozens of satellites collecting climate data, scientists say that we need more, particularly to measure methane emissions, gauge how much biomass is changing and take the temperature of smaller areas at greater frequency. The lack of full coverage and data continuity are two difficulties.
Responding to Information from Space
Space technology is teaching us about the problems, but it’s going to take everyone here back on Earth to fix it. Satellite data help governments develop climate policies informed by evidence. Companies rely on it to shrink their carbon footprints and ascertain climate risks. Communities employ it to anticipate climate impacts, and shield local ecosystems.
We can support action on climate as individuals by keeping up with what satellite data tell us. When scientists issue dire predictions of how fast the ice is melting or how much carbon emissions are growing, they’re not guessing — they’re crunching numbers from satellites. We should be inspired by information like this to take steps to limit our carbon output, support clean energy and demand action from those in charge.
Wrapping Up: Our Eyes in the Skies
Space technologies have changed how we think about and battle climate change. These nine types of satellites and instruments provide us with unparalleled information about the health of our planet. They’ve taken climate science from guessing to knowing, from local thinking to global awareness and then back around again, so that these data seem capable of changing how we see who we are and where we’re going.
The information streaming back from orbit is unambiguous: Earth’s climate is heating up, and human activities are primarily responsible. But this very technology also reports to us where we are making progress, what solutions work best and how we can target our efforts most effectively.
Combatting climate change is the existential crisis of our time, and space technology is among our most powerful tools. These satellites, floating quietly above us, are helping humankind understand the problem, monitor our progress and make the intelligent decisions required to protect this beautiful planet for generations to come. If ever there were a single sensation guaranteed to be felt by any human who sets eyes on Earth from space, it is that our planet is our only home, and it’s worth standing up for.
