The Polar Radient Energy in the Far Infrared Experiment (Prefire)

Abstract

In February 2018, NASA selected PREFIRE (The Polar Radiant Energy in the Far Infrared Experiment) to perform first-of-a-kind infrared and far-infrared measurements of Earth’s atmosphere from space. This compelling new science mission will attempt to answer the question Why is the Arctic warming faster than the rest of the planet? by filling an important gap in our knowledge of energy flows in Polar Regions. PREFIRE will fly a pair of small CubeSat satellites to probe a little-studied portion of the radiant energy emitted by Earth for clues about Arctic warming, sea ice loss and ice-sheet melting. Two miniaturized Thermal Infrared Spectrometers (TIRS) on two CubeSat satellites, are based on technology previously flown on the Mars Climate Sounder, an instrument on NASA s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. The CubeSats will orbit Earth s poles to measure far-infrared emissions and how they change throughout the day and over seasons. By building, characterizing, and operating, TIRS payloads in two different polar orbits, the PREFIRE mission has potential impact on NASA in these focus areas through (1) Quantification of the influence of variable surface conditions on Arctic and Antarctic thermal emission, (2) Estimation of the impact of atmospheric constituents on the polar greenhouse effect, and, (3) Determination of the impacts of variations in far-infrared emissivity and greenhouse effect on ice sheet melt and sea level rise. The observations will allow scientists to assess how changes in thermal infrared emissions at the top of Earth s atmosphere are related to changes in cloud cover and surface conditions below. Incorporation of PREFIRE measurements into current ice sheet process models and global climate models is expected to improve confidence in predictions of global climate changes that impact environmental and national security.