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MISR Science Goals and Objectives
Introduction to Science Objectives
Climate is what makes Earth habitable. And the climate is constantly
changing -- as a consequence of both natural processes and human activities. We
care a great deal about even small changes in Earth's climate, since they can
affect our comfort and well-being, and possibly our survival. Even a few years
of below-average rainfall, an unusually cold winter, or a change in emissions
from a coal-burning power plant, can influence the quality of life of people,
plants, and animals in the region involved.
The goal of NASA's Earth Observing System (EOS) is to increase our
understanding of the climate changes that are occurring on our planet, and the
reasons for these changes, so we are better equipped to anticipate and prepare
for the future. The MISR instrument is a part of EOS. Its role is to measure how
much sunlight is scattered in different directions under natural conditions.
This will help quantify the amount of solar energy that heats Earth's
surface and atmosphere, and the changes that occur in these quantities over the
six-year nominal lifetime of the MISR instrument.
From the MISR observations, we will also learn more about those components of
Earth environment that scatter sunlight in the first place: particles in the
atmosphere, the planet's surface, and clouds. MISR will monitor changes in
surface reflection properties, in atmospheric aerosol content and composition,
and in cloudiness. We will use these data to study the effects of land use
changes, air pollution, and volcanic eruptions, as well as processes such as
desertification, deforestation, and soil erosion. As part of the EOS program,
computer models that predict future climate will be improved by the results of
these studies.
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