UVSQ-SAT a New Way to Obtain Spatio-temporal Variations of the Radiation
Budget with a Satellite Constellation
Abstract
Monitoring Earth Energy Imbalance (EEI) is absolutely fundamental to
understand and prevent climate change as it corresponds to the Earth’s
excess heat. In particular, measuring radiative forcing in an
environment with a wide range of conditions entails a better
understanding of its impact on the climate.The UltraViolet and infrared
Sensors at high Quantum efficiency on-board a small SATellite (UVSQ-SAT)
aims to improve measurements of those radiations at Top Of the
Atmosphere (TOA). It becomes a pathfinder for Radiation Budget
measurements on-board a CubeSat demonstrating a disruptive technology,
implementing miniaturized sensors on a small satellite (twelve
miniaturized thermopiles sensors and four photodiodes). This project is
promoted by the University of Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines with the support
of the International Satellite Program in Research and Education
(INSPIRE). The satellite will be launched and in-orbit in December
2020.One of the main purposes of the mission is to measure the Essential
Climate Variables (ECV) more precisely using multi-point observation, in
an effort to improve spatiotemporal coverage through future
constellation. The scientific goals of the mission are first to observe
incoming solar radiation and outgoing terrestrial radiations at Top Of
the Atmosphere. The second purpose is to measure solar spectral
irradiance in the Herzberg continuum. Finally, the third objective is to
improve the technological readiness of a sensor.This session will focus
on the ability to define the spatiotemporal accuracy required to monitor
the variability of those Essential Climate Variables. Therefore, it will
allow us to determine the number of satellites and characteristics of
the future constellation meeting these specifications.