Climate Change is a reality that can't be denied — although many have tried. On Saturday (May 25), NASA launched a tiny satellite that will help better climate change predictions in a warming world.

The satellite was launched&nbsp;into orbit atop Rocket Lab's Electron rocket from the company's Launch Complex 1 in Māhia, New Zealand at 7:41 p.m. NZST (3:41 a.m. EDT).

<h2>NASA's PREFIRE</h2>

NASA's PREFIRE (Polar Radiant Energy in the Far-InfraRed Experiment) mission will use two shoebox-size cube satellites, or CubeSats to measure the amount of heat our planet Earth radiates into space from two of the coldest, most remote regions on the planet — the North and South Poles.

Speaking at a recent news conference, NASA's earth sciences research director Karen St. Germain said "This new information — and we've never had it before — will improve our ability to model what's happening in the poles, what's happening in climate."

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The satellite will take infrared measurements far above the Arctic and Antarctic to measure directly the heat that the poles release into space, reports AFP.

"NASA's innovative PREFIRE mission will fill a gap in our understanding of the Earth system–providing our scientists a detailed picture of how Earth's polar regions influence how much energy our planet absorbs and releases," said St. Germain.

"This will improve prediction of sea ice loss, ice sheet melt, and sea level rise, creating a better understanding of how our planet’s system will change in the coming years — crucial information to farmers tracking changes in weather and water, fishing fleets working in changing seas, and coastal communities building resilience."

<h2>Innovative technology</h2>

With PREFIRE, NASA aims to understand how clouds, humidity, and the melting of ice affect heat loss from the poles.

According to Tristan L'Ecuyer, a mission researcher at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, climate change scientists have till now been relying on theoretical models instead of real observations to measure heat loss.&nbsp;

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"Hopefully we'll be able to improve our ability to simulate what sea level rise might look like in the future and also how the polar climate change is going to affect the weather systems around the planet," he said.&nbsp;

According to St. Germain, small satellites like this are an affordable method to address specific scientific inquiries. She said that while larger satellites can be thought of as "generalists", the small ones are "specialists," and "NASA needs both."

(With inputs from agencies)

Climate Change is a reality that can't be denied — although many have tried. On Saturday (May 25), NASA launched a tiny satellite that will help better climate change predictions in a warming world.

Climate Change is a reality that can't be denied — although many have tried. On Saturday (May 25), NASA launched a tiny satellite that will help better climate change predictions in a warming world. The satellite was launched into orbit atop Rocket Lab's Electron rocket from the company's Launch Complex 1 in Māhia, New Zealand at 7:41 p.m. NZST (3:41 a.m. EDT). NASA's PREFIRE NASA's PREFIRE (Polar Radiant Energy in the Far-InfraRed Experiment) mission will use two shoebox-size cube satellites, or CubeSats to measure the amount of heat our planet Earth radiates into space from two of the coldest, most remote regions on the planet — the North and South Poles. Speaking at a recent news conference, NASA's earth sciences research director Karen St. Germain said "This new information — and we've never had it before — will improve our ability to model what's happening in the poles, what's happening in climate." Also read | NASA's James Webb may have found answers to planets' extreme puffiness around stars The satellite will take infrared measurements far above the Arctic and Antarctic to measure directly the heat that the poles release into space, reports AFP. "NASA's innovative PREFIRE mission will fill a gap in our understanding of the Earth system–providing our scientists a detailed picture of how Earth's polar regions influence how much energy our planet absorbs and releases," said St. Germain. "This will improve prediction of sea ice loss, ice sheet melt, and sea level rise, creating a better understanding of how our planet’s system will change in the coming years — crucial information to farmers tracking changes in weather and water, fishing fleets working in changing seas, and coastal communities building resilience." Innovative technology With PREFIRE, NASA aims to understand how clouds, humidity, and the melting of ice affect heat loss from the poles. According to Tristan L'Ecuyer, a mission researcher at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, climate change scientists have till now been relying on theoretical models instead of real observations to measure heat loss. Also read | Tesla car Roadster is in space. But do you know WHERE it is right now? "Hopefully we'll be able to improve our ability to simulate what sea level rise might look like in the future and also how the polar climate change is going to affect the weather systems around the planet," he said. According to St. Germain, small satellites like this are an affordable method to address specific scientific inquiries. She said that while larger satellites can be thought of as "generalists", the small ones are "specialists," and "NASA needs both." (With inputs from agencies)

NASA launches satellite PREFIRE to monitor, predict and help mitigate climate change

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NASA launches satellite PREFIRE to monitor, predict and help mitigate climate change