Space gears up for climate change study

A record 17 satellites are to be launched in 2008 in the largest-ever concerted global effort to monitor the impact of climate change over the next few decades, according to the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO), which is leading the initiative.

A map of carbon monoxide draped on the globe developed by the Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) instrument on NASA's Aqua spacecraft. (Image: NASA/JPL-Caltech)

At a two-day meeting in New Orleans, USA, Jerome Lafeuille, Chief of the Space-based Observing System Division of the WMO's Space Programme, said the organisation had managed to get the support of a number of space agencies, which would share information.

The satellites will not only provide a continuous flow of climate and weather data, but also environmental information to aid long-term study of climate change, as well as early warning information on droughts and flooding to help developing countries.

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