The recent haze episodes in Spain showed us that the desert dust It’s much more than that. Not only does it make everything dirty, it can also cause health problems for vulnerable people, especially when it carries some toxic substances with it. But, in addition, it can enhance global warming. The latter is an assumption that should be studied in greater depth, which is why NASA has sent the International Space Stationl an instrument, called EMITwhich will analyze it.
Named after the acronym in English for “Source of Mineral Dust from the Earth’s Surface”, EMIT is an instrument that consists of a advanced imaging spectrometer, capable of analyzing the color of dust particles floating in the atmosphere. This is very important, since the darkest ones are the ones that worry about their ability to absorb heat and enhance global warming. Currently, the dust is considered to be mostly yellow, due to an equal mix of light and dark dust. However, it is beginning to suspect that the latter could abound more than it seems.
And the International Space Station is a perfect place to study it, since in its orbit it passes around some of the driest areas on Earth. This is where most of the atmospheric dust comes from, so it can be studied from the source. Of course, we will still have to wait a bit to know its results, since it is not expected to start working until the end of July.
Why is it so important to study dust from the International Space Station?
Dust particles are of many types, although it seems that colored ones predominate. dark redwith the presence of iron in its composition, or more clear that contain clay.
These last would reflect sunlight, so they would be very beneficial for their help in cooling the planet. However, the dark absorb the same radiation, causing the opposite effect. To date, it is not known exactly which particles predominate. That is why NASA has sent EMIT to the International Space Station. Your goal is take records and analyze the composition of dust around the world.
Thus, information about its role in global warming could be extracted. But also on many other issues. For example, as explained from TheVergeatmospheric dust influences issues such as cloud formation, air quality or water availability. You can even speed up the thaw if it perches on icy areas. And it is not something impossible. The dust can travel many kilometers, from North Africa to the Amazon jungles. All this with a multitude of stops, causing havoc like the ones we live with in the haze.
It is necessary to be vigilant to know how far it can go. And now that eye will work from the top, taking records on the International Space Station. The NASA instrument has been directed there aboard a SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft.
Once there, it will begin taking measurements at the end of July, in order to release the data that will be analyzed by NASA scientists. Thus, we will be able to know to what extent this apparently innocent dust is working to accelerate the consequences of global warming.