NASA searches for climate solutions as global temperatures reach record highs

NASA Scientists Discuss Solutions to Mitigate Global Warming Effects

NASA scientists opened a discussion on Thursday (July 20) to outline key solutions they’ve been working on to mitigate the dire effects of global warming.

Introduction

As heat waves continue to sweep across Earth, wildfires burn across North America and natural disasters like hurricanes increase in severity – all consequences of human-induced climate change – the space agency is paying attention and looking for ways it can help mitigate the effects of a warming planet. “This last June was the warmest June on record,” Gavin Schmidt, director of NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies, said. “And we anticipate, with the understanding of what’s going on, on a day by day basis, that July is likely to be the warmest absolute month on record.”

Mitigation Efforts

1. Missions to improve understanding of how global warming is changing biological systems
2. Research into next-gen technologies like unmanned aircraft to monitor wildfire response mechanisms
3. Deployment of satellites to track greenhouse gas emissions across the globe

Importance of Climate Data

Another recurring theme of the discussion was the importance of generating pristine climate data that’s available to the public, researchers, and policymakers with the power to make a difference. There was even some preliminary talk about how artificial intelligence and deep learning could aid the agency with getting climate data that’s as precise and accurate as possible.

NASA’s Role in Climate Change

“Our science isn’t done until we’ve communicated it,” Karen St. Germain, director of NASA’s Earth Science Division, said. “This has never been more important or compelling than it is today. NASA Earth Science is end-to-end capability from technology all the way through what the observations mean, today and into the future. That end-to-end capability allows us the opportunity to deliver actionable science and information so more people can see the Earth as we see it.” NASA administrator Bill Nelson emphasized that NASA is not only a space agency but also a climate agency.

Immediate Action Needed

Experts in marine science, aeronautical engineering, and environmental studies spoke during the conference about the immediacy with which climate change must be handled. Gavin Schmidt highlighted the increasing temperatures throughout the last four decades and suggested that 2023 may be the hottest year on record. NASA aims to protect not only humanity but also species on land and in the sea.

Impact on Oceans

Carlos Del Castillo, chief of the Ocean Ecology Laboratory at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, discussed the impact of rising temperatures on marine species. He mentioned that the waters around Florida are becoming extremely complicated for marine life due to increased temperatures caused by CO2 emissions. The acidity of the ocean has increased by about 25% since the Industrial Revolution.

Upcoming Missions

NASA’s upcoming PACE mission, slated to launch in early 2024, as well as its GLIMR mission, expected to begin the following year, will help scientists understand and tackle marine issues related to climate change. PACE will focus on detecting ocean color changes, clouds, and aerosols, while GLIMR will identify harmful algal blooms and oil spills. These missions will work together to provide a comprehensive understanding of how climate change affects oceans and organisms within them.

Existing Climate-related Missions

NASA already has over two dozen climate-related missions in orbit, including the Orbiting Carbon Observatories 2 and 3, which measured greenhouse gas emissions from Europe’s largest coal-fired power plant earlier this year.

Sustainable Aviation

In the realm of spaceflight, NASA aims to develop green technologies and sustainable aviation propulsion mechanisms for various forms of air travel. Ideas include fully electric aircraft, reduced fuel burn for commercial aviation, and unmanned drones and aircraft for firefighting purposes.

Collaboration for Actionable Solutions

NASA is partnering with organizations such as FEMA and NOAA to identify society’s needs regarding actionable climate change solutions.

Conclusion

Human activity and greenhouse gas emissions are unequivocally causing the warming seen on our planet, impacting people and ecosystems worldwide. NASA is committed to mitigating the effects of global warming through research, technology, and collaboration.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

1. SDGs Addressed or Connected to the Issues Highlighted in the Article:

• SDG 13: Climate Action
• SDG 14: Life Below Water
• SDG 15: Life on Land

2. Specific Targets Based on the Article’s Content:

• SDG 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters
• SDG 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies, and planning
• SDG 14.2: Sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems
• SDG 15.2: Promote the implementation of sustainable management of all types of forests

3. Indicators Mentioned or Implied in the Article:

• Temperature records and trends
• Greenhouse gas emissions tracking
• Ocean temperature and acidity levels
• Ocean color changes, harmful algal blooms, and oil spills detection
• Greenhouse gas emissions from power plants

Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Behold! This splendid article springs forth from the wellspring of knowledge, shaped by a wondrous proprietary AI technology that delved into a vast ocean of data, illuminating the path towards the Sustainable Development Goals. Remember that all rights are reserved by SDG Investors LLC, empowering us to champion progress together.

Source: space.com

Join us, as fellow seekers of change, on a transformative journey at https://sdgtalks.ai/welcome, where you can become a member and actively contribute to shaping a brighter future.