University of Saskatchewan receives $600,000 for NASA science mission

A national team of researchers, co-led by scientists from the University of Saskatchewan, received $600,000 from the province to pursue a project linked to a mission of the United States Space Agency (NASA).

The AVENIR mission (Aerosols, water vapor, clouds and interactions with radiation) is Canada’s contribution to the international atmospheric observation (AOS) mission led by the NASAwhose launch is scheduled for 2031.

This initiative deploys various satellite instruments dedicated to climate science, aimed at anticipating extreme weather conditions and monitoring disasters.

The mission also aims to provide new data needed by scientists to understand the factors contributing to climate change.

Project co-leader and professor of physics at the University of Saskatchewan, Doug Degenstein, explains that the team of researchers is developing optical instruments that are mainly sophisticated cameras.

[Ce sont] very, very, very sophisticated and very inexpensive camerasnotes Mr. Degenstein.

According to a press release, two of the three instruments of the mission FUTURE were developed at the University of Saskatchewan. Mr. Degenstein indicates that the design of these instruments has been underway for approximately fifteen years.

These devices can measure light from the atmosphere after it bounces off airborne aerosols, to determine the type of aerosol and its quantity.

From there, scientists can tell whether the aerosol is smoke, ice crystals, or other particles that affect the atmosphere and climate differently in the long term.

AVENIR highlights the University of Saskatchewan’s contribution to the fight against global climate change”,”text”:”The AVENIR project highlights the University of Saskatchewan’s contribution to the fight against climate change worldwide”}}”>The project FUTURE highlights the University of Saskatchewan’s contribution to the fight against global climate changesays the president of the post-secondary institution, Peter Stoicheff.