The Changing-Atmosphere Infra-Red Tomography Explorer
The Changing-Atmosphere Infra-Red Tomography Explorer CAIRT was selected by the European Space Agency (ESA) as one of two candidate missions for the Earth Explorer 11 satellite, undergoing Phase A studies. The aim of CAIRT was to provide the urgently needed observations throughout the whole depth of the Earth atmosphere, to improve our knowledge of the coupling of atmospheric circulation, composition and regional climate change.
CAIRT had the ambition to be the first limb-sounder with imaging Fourier-transform infrared technology in space. By observing simultaneously the atmosphere from the mid-troposphere to the lower thermosphere (about 5 to 115 km altitude). CAIRT could provide global observations of ozone, temperature, water vapour, as well as key halogen and nitrogen compounds.
ESA’s Earth Observation Programme Board formally selected WIVERN as the Earth Explorer 11 Mission. Even though CAIRT’s scientific goals are seen both timely and important for addressing major unknowns with important societal benefits as well (ESA-ACEO).
©Picture: ESA T. Reiter