NASA's $1 Billion Climate Satellite Takes to the Skies, Aiming to Reduce Rising Seas Risk
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NASA has launched a cutting-edge satellite, Sentinel-6B, as part of a multibillion-dollar effort to monitor Earth's climate. The satellite, launched in mid-November with the help of SpaceX, is equipped with advanced radar technology that can measure ocean heights and atmospheric conditions. This data will be crucial for city planners, coastal authorities, and governments to prepare for rising seas, floods, and climate-driven migration. The satellite will also collect atmospheric data, including temperature and humidity levels, to improve weather predictions and understand climate change patterns. Sentinel-6B is seen as a vital tool in the fight against climate change, providing continuous, high-precision sea-level data over decades. This data is essential for predicting long-term trends like coastal erosion, increased shorelines, and threats to small island states. The satellite's data will also inform infrastructure planning in cities, helping to determine when and where to build, how high to raise structures, and which regions may need evacuation or special protection. Insurance companies, disaster-management agencies, and climate-vulnerable governments are likely to rely heavily on this data. According to NASA, continuous, high-accuracy data on ocean and atmospheric changes is more important than ever, as rising global temperatures accelerate glacier melt, ice-sheet retreat, ocean warming, and extreme weather events. Sentinel-6B's extended data record will help scientists, policymakers, and coastal communities monitor trends, model future impacts, and prepare or adapt accordingly.
