Feb 22 2011
The NASA satellite, Glory, will be launched from the Vandenberg Air Force Base on February 23. It will measure aerosols in the atmosphere that are formed by vehicular emissions, factories, volcanoes or desert sandstorms. Green forests, marine life or soils can also cause aerosols. Aerosols can impact global climate changes.
The particles float up from the surface of the earth to the stratosphere and can vary in size from a nanometer to a micrometer. Bright or translucent gases reflect radiation back into space, cooling the atmosphere. Carbon and toxins absorb light and heat the atmosphere.
Glory, which has an aerosol-sensing device called the Aerosol Polarimetry Sensor (APS) will identify aerosol types like salt, mineral dust and smoke. It can determine polarization or orientation of light-wave pulses. Raw sunlight is unpolarized so the waves oscillate randomly.
The Glory mission will produce such new data about aerosols. Scientists will have to equip products with ground sensors across the globe and adapt and update mathematical techniques for space environment. The mission will help scientists understand aerosol particles.
Source: http://www.nasa.gov/