NASA PACE Mission

June 18, 2024

The Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, and ocean Ecosystem (PACE) mission is an exciting project by NASA aimed at understanding the complex interactions within our planet's ecosystems. Launched to study the Earth's atmosphere and oceans, PACE helps scientists gain insights into the health of our planet and the processes that drive climate change.

PACE focuses on studying phytoplankton, the microscopic plants that float in the ocean. These tiny organisms are crucial for marine ecosystems as they form the base of the oceanic food web and play a significant role in carbon cycling. By observing phytoplankton, PACE helps monitor ocean health and productivity.

PACE is equipped with cutting-edge instruments designed to capture high-resolution data across a wide range of wavelengths. The primary sensor, the Ocean Color Instrument (OCI), is capable of measuring various aspects of light reflected from the ocean and atmosphere. This data helps scientists identify different types of phytoplankton, quantify aerosol concentrations, and analyze cloud properties with unprecedented precision.

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