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PACE Satellite Detects NO₂ Pollution at High Resolution | NASA Mission | UPSC Science & Tech

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📘 ENGLISH CONTENT

Researchers recently found that NASA’s PACE satellite can detect nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) pollution at a fine scale, enabling identification of emissions from individual factories and highways.

About PACE Satellite

The Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, and ocean Ecosystem (PACE) is a satellite mission launched by NASA in February 2024.

It is placed in a Sun-synchronous orbit, allowing consistent observation of Earth under similar lighting conditions.

Key Features

  • Provides hyperspectral imaging of the Earth every 1–2 days
  • Offers detailed observation of oceans, atmosphere, and ecosystems
  • Helps monitor air pollution and climate change

Major Instruments

1. Ocean Color Instrument (OCI)

  • Advanced optical spectrometer
  • Measures ocean colour from ultraviolet to infrared spectrum
  • Helps track marine ecosystems and phytoplankton

2. Polarimeters

  • SPEXone
  • HARP2
  • These instruments measure polarization of light to study aerosols, clouds, and ocean particles.

Applications

  • Detection of air pollutants like NO₂
  • Monitoring harmful algal blooms
  • Studying fisheries and marine health
  • Tracking wildfire smoke and aerosols
  • Understanding ocean-atmosphere interactions

Significance

  • First satellite to provide global hyperspectral coverage
  • Enhances climate research accuracy
  • Helps policymakers track pollution sources precisely
  • Supports environmental protection and sustainability

📘 MCQs (ENGLISH)

Q1. PACE satellite is launched by:

A. ISRO

B. ESA

C. NASA

D. CNSA

Answer: C

Q2. Full form of PACE:

A. Planet Atmosphere Climate Earth

B. Plankton Aerosol Cloud Ecosystem

C. Plankton Aerosol Cloud ocean Ecosystem

D. Polar Aerosol Cloud Earth

Answer: C

Q3. Launch year:

A. 2022

B. 2023

C. 2024

D. 2025

Answer: C

Q4. Orbit type:

A. Geostationary

B. Polar

C. Sun-synchronous

D. Elliptical

Answer: C

Q5. OCI measures:

A. Temperature

B. Ocean colour

C. Pressure

D. Gravity

Answer: B

Q6. Hyperspectral means:

A. Low resolution

B. Multi-wavelength data

C. Single wavelength

D. No data

Answer: B

Q7. Polarimeters measure:

A. Temperature

B. Pressure

C. Light polarization

D. Gravity

Answer: C

Q8. PACE helps study:

A. Ocean

B. Air pollution

C. Climate

D. All

Answer: D

Q9. NO₂ is related to:

A. Water pollution

B. Air pollution

C. Soil pollution

D. Noise pollution

Answer: B

Q10. PACE provides data every:

A. 1–2 days

B. 1 week

C. 1 month

D. 1 year

Answer: A

📘 हिंदी कंटेंट

PACE Satellite – प्रदूषण निगरानी में नई क्रांति | UPSC Science

हाल ही में शोध में पाया गया कि NASA का PACE सैटेलाइट NO₂ प्रदूषण को बहुत सूक्ष्म स्तर पर पहचान सकता है।

यह अब फैक्ट्री और हाईवे स्तर तक प्रदूषण स्रोतों को पहचान सकता है।

PACE सैटेलाइट क्या है?

PACE का पूरा नाम है:

Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, and ocean Ecosystem

यह NASA द्वारा फरवरी 2024 में लॉन्च किया गया।

यह Sun-synchronous orbit में है।

मुख्य विशेषताएँ

  • हर 1–2 दिन में पृथ्वी का डेटा
  • महासागर और वायुमंडल का अध्ययन
  • प्रदूषण की निगरानी

मुख्य उपकरण

OCI (Ocean Color Instrument)

  • समुद्र के रंग को मापता है

Polarimeters (SPEXone, HARP2)

  • प्रकाश के polarization को मापते हैं

उपयोग

  • NO₂ प्रदूषण
  • समुद्री जीवन
  • जलवायु परिवर्तन
  • धुआँ और एरोसोल

महत्व

  • पहला hyperspectral satellite
  • बेहतर climate data
  • प्रदूषण स्रोत पहचान

📘 MCQs (हिंदी)

Q1. PACE किसने लॉन्च किया?

A. ISRO

B. ESA

C. NASA

D. चीन

उत्तर: C

Q2. PACE का पूरा नाम क्या है?

A. Planet

B. Plankton Aerosol Cloud ocean Ecosystem

C. Polar

D. Climate

उत्तर: B

Q3. लॉन्च वर्ष?

A. 2022

B. 2023

C. 2024

D. 2025

उत्तर: C

Q4. यह किस कक्षा में है?

A. Geostationary

B. Polar

C. Sun-synchronous

D. Elliptical

उत्तर: C

Q5. OCI क्या मापता है?

A. तापमान

B. समुद्र का रंग

C. दबाव

D. गुरुत्व

उत्तर: B

Q6. Hyperspectral क्या है?

A. कम डेटा

B. कई तरंग दैर्ध्य

C. एक

D. कोई नहीं

उत्तर: B

Q7. Polarimeter क्या मापता है?

A. तापमान

B. दबाव

C. प्रकाश

D. polarization

उत्तर: D

Q8. PACE क्या अध्ययन करता है?

A. महासागर

B. वायु

C. जलवायु

D. सभी

उत्तर: D

Q9. NO₂ किससे संबंधित है?

A. जल

B. वायु

C. मिट्टी

D. ध्वनि

उत्तर: B

Q10. डेटा कितने दिन में मिलता है?

A. 1–2 दिन

B. 1 सप्ताह

C. 1 महीना

D. 1 साल

उत्तर: A

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