Importance of Space Technology in Climate Monitoring

• Himalayan Glacier Monitoring
  • Glaciers shrinking due to climate change increase risks like Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs).
  • ISRO tracks glacial lake expansion, which has increased by 27% since 1984, aiding in flood prediction.
  • Affects 400 million people relying on glacial water for drinking, agriculture, and livelihoods.
• Urban Ecosystem Monitoring
  • Example: Bengaluru
    • 93% reduction in lakes and forests since the 1970s.
    • 79% loss of water bodies and 88% loss of forests due to rapid urbanization.
    • Increased vulnerability to flooding and heatwaves monitored using satellite data.

Evolution of Space Technology in Climate Science

• First Steps
  • 1960: Launch of NASA’s TIROS 1 satellite provided a global perspective of the Earth’s climate.
  • 1970s: Satellites began detecting human impacts on the environment.
• Advancements
  • Satellites now monitor atmospheric patterns, ocean currents, and land use changes.
  • Enabled scientists to track and respond to climate changes effectively.

Contributions of Satellite Technology to Climate Monitoring

• Key Parameters Monitored
  • Weather Patterns: INSAT series.
  • Air and Surface Temperatures: Copernicus Sentinel-3, Oceansat-2.
  • Greenhouse Gases: Sentinel-5P monitors CO₂ and methane.
  • Land Use and Glacier Health: IRS series and ICESat-2.
• Earth Observation (EO) Market
  • Expected to reach $700 billion by 2030 (World Economic Forum).
  • EO satellites provide critical data for climate models and policy-making.

Advanced Satellite Sensors

• Sensor Types
  • Optical Sensors: Capture high-resolution images for vegetation, water, and land use monitoring.
  • Lidar Sensors: Use laser pulses to create 3D maps, crucial for tracking topographic changes and ice sheet thinning.
  • SAR (Synthetic Aperture Radar): Observes weather trends, deforestation, and ice fluctuations.
  • Thermal Infrared Sensors: Detect surface heat emissions to assess temperatures.
• Data Processing
  • Raw data is processed to remove noise and atmospheric interference.
  • Processed data helps assess deforestation, glacier melting, and drought.

Challenges and Innovations in Climate Monitoring

• Remote Areas Coverage
  • Limited monitoring in regions like the Arctic and Antarctic.
  • NISAR mission (ISRO-NASA collaboration) addresses these gaps.
• Emerging Technologies
  • Methane monitoring satellites detect specific leak origins, aiding emission control.
  • Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning enhance data analysis, enabling better predictions and responses.

Private Sector and Startups in SpaceTech

• Role of Startups
  • Complement public initiatives in climate monitoring.
  • Develop pioneering satellite-based technologies for global collaboration.
• Indian Contributions
  • Indian companies are becoming significant players in space-based climate solutions.
  • Startups accelerate the development of scalable, actionable strategies.

Conclusion

• Space technology is integral to climate adaptation and mitigation.
• Collaboration between agencies, startups, and AI integration is shaping the future of climate science.
• Investments in satellite technology pave the way for a sustainable future.