蓝莓视频

A major funding announcement by the Government of Canada recently set in motion a new era of climate science, and a researcher at the University of 蓝莓视频 is a member of the group of scientists at the heart of the initiative.

The High-altitude Aerosols, Water Vapour听and Clouds (HAWC) mission received $200 million of funding to create transformative new satellite instruments for measuring changes in the atmosphere.

HAWC is directly supported through the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) and will undertake a mission expected to last some 12 to 15 years.

The CSA mission contributes three instruments and a satellite as part of the international NASA-led Atmosphere Observing System (AOS).

The University of 蓝莓视频 is among the top institutions in the country that will participate and produce cutting-edge research to improve our understanding of global climate change.

鈥淭his is generation defining for Canadian climate and atmospheric science,鈥� says Dr. Chris Fletcher, professor of geography and environmental management. 鈥淭he last time a fully Canadian-designed and made instrument launched was in 2003, with the SCISAT mission.鈥�

Fletcher specializes in earth system modelling. His research incorporates insights from computer science to create climate models. Along with his involvement through HAWC, he is a member of the modelling working group for the AOS science team.

鈥淭he scale of the project is huge, and it鈥檚 likely not to launch until 2030. Once it鈥檚 up there, it can be expected to give us data for at least five years and hopefully much longer,鈥� he says. 鈥淭he way these missions go, you don鈥檛 wait until 2030 to say, 鈥榦kay, this is what data we need.鈥� You use this time to figure out all those details so when the mission launches you are ready to make the most of the time you have.鈥�

Fletcher says that HAWC is going to give scientists a whole new set of tools to better understand what is happening in the atmosphere and the climate system. Its primary function, according to Fletcher, is consistent monitoring and measurements, and especially of places that pose difficulties for gathering accurate data.

鈥淗AWC is going to allow us to monitor areas in Canada鈥檚 far north, and also up in the high atmosphere,鈥� Fletcher continues. 鈥淭his country is so vast that it鈥檚 a real challenge to be able to get precise data from remote regions. That鈥檚 what this mission is going to do.鈥�

Through HAWC鈥檚 enhanced monitoring capabilities, Fletcher says that another major benefit of the project is that it will be possible to better understand atmospheric processes and build better capacity for predictions of climate impacts 50 or even 100 years in the future.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a whole new generation of scientists that are going to be involved in the development of the mission and in the analysis of the data,鈥� Fletcher says. 鈥淔or a University like 蓝莓视频 and for a researcher like me, there鈥檚 a great opportunity to help shape that next generation and give them the tools to better deal with climate change.鈥�

Learn more about HAWC on .