The next SpaceX launch to the International Space Station will feature a satellite to study and monitor atmospheric dust which has a significant influence on regulating hurricane development and climate.
NASA’s Earth Surface Mineral Dust Source Investigation (EMIT) will identify what minerals are in the dust blowing up from arid regions around the planet. This data will be used to see its effects on the planet.
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Future climate scenarios might change the amount and type of mineral dust emitted into the Earth’s atmosphere. You might think the dust has little impact on temperature, however each year, strong winds carry the weight of 10,000 aircraft carriers of mineral dust through the atmosphere according to NASA.
This is enough to heat or cool the planet and scientists want to know more about the cumulative effect this change has on the planet.
EMIT will provide a detailed picture of the dust’s albedo, or how much is dark versus light-colored minerals. Since dark colors absorb more heat, the planet would trap more heat compared to whiter more reflective minerals lofted in the atmosphere.
The data will improve the accuracy of climate models and help scientists predict how future climate scenarios will affect the type and amount of dust in our atmosphere.