Scholarly record

DEVELOPMENT OF SPACE FACILITIES FOR OCEAN RESEARCH AS A CLIMATE FORMING FACTOR

Vassiliy Chesnov

Abstract

The oceans cover more than 70% of the Earth's surface. There is a constant material andenergetic interaction of the ocean with the environment. This process determines themodification of the basic properties of its waters, which, in turn, determines the climatechange on Earth. Climate change remains today one of the most discussed issues in bothacademia and the public. The Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission ofUNESCO responsible for supporting global ocean science and services pays greatattention to the impact of the ocean on the climate of our planet.The role of expeditionary research and the collection of information about the oceanusing specialized ships and sea buoys remains significant, but does not make it possibleto conduct continuous global monitoring of the world's oceans. Orbital facilities allowobservations on a planetary scale, and also provide information on areas inaccessible for"contact" measurements. In addition to this circumstance, almost all received data aretransmitted to the collection and processing centers via satellite communication lines.A number of scientific discoveries related to climate change have been made thanks tospace vehicles. With the help of space altimetry, a rise in the level of the world oceanwas recorded over the past decades, a complete picture of the circulation of its waterswas obtained.Orbiting satellites observing the ocean can be subdivided into two main clusters. Thelarger constellation serves practical meteorological purposes, while the other is intendedto address fundamental climatological problems.The first specialized Soviet and American spacecraft for studying the ocean werelaunched into orbit in the late 70s - early 80s of the 20th century. They were equippedwith various remote sensing instruments, the characteristics of which were determinedby specific flight programs. In less than five decades, the onboard technical equipmenthas undergone both quantitative and qualitative changes. The volume and diversity ofinformation received from the Earth's orbit presuppose a comprehensive considerationof space tools and ground-based processing facilities and software.

Publication Impact Profile

• Captures
• Mendeley - Readers: 2

PLUMX see details

DOI resolver: doi.org/10.5593/sgem2021v/4.2/s19.10

Publication details

Back to publication list