Addressing climate issues with small satellites: Radiative Balance and Temperature
Résumé
Atmospheric temperatures result of the radiative balance between Earth emission and Solar irradiance. To resolve such an issue it is required to insure global measurements of vertical temperature profiles, IR Earth emissions and solar irradiance on a long term basis. IR emissions and UV-Visible solar flux are related to composition and albedo that need to be performed simultaneously with temperature because of their space and time variability. Solar irradiance required to be observed on the UV part of the spectrum that exhibit the largest changes and having the largest atmospheric impact. Actual instruments are not numerous and suffer from discontinuities. Such measurements can be performed by miniaturized instruments and conducted on board small satellites. A possible strategy consist in having a constellation to insure a global survey. Continuity can be access with successive instruments if instrument drifts can be reduced.