The space quest is much more complicated than simply visiting the moon or sending rovers to Mars. Much of what we do in space has more to do with observing Earth than any other planet or moon. That’s because the perspective that outer space affords is beyond anything we can observe on Earth.
That includes the oceans, which have a greater impact on civilization and the world as a whole than many people know. An ocean’s influence on climate and weather, paired with the economic and societal implications, cannot be understated. However, space technology isn’t without its faults, as it can negatively impact the oceans and atmosphere.
That alone has led to many spirited debates weighing the pros against the cons of observing the ocean with aerospace technology. Follow along as we explore how our space quest has affected the oceans.
Space Exploration Benefits the Ocean Below
Marine conservation is important not only for the diverse wildlife within oceans but also for the people they affect. Many people don’t realize how significantly oceans affect the economy, climate, and the environment. Today, space exploration plays a big role in marine conservation.
Observing everything from the temperature, surface height, current, and ocean color can provide invaluable information. This is inarguably as important as anything else we observe through space exploration. The ever-evolving landscape of space exploration affects the oceans and how we view them in several ways, such as:
1. Understanding Climate Change
It’s no secret that the oceans can tell us a lot about climate change. That’s especially true when using the wealth of technology developed for space exploration. Space exploration provides unparalleled insights into the Earth’s oceans because of its vast perspective.
Satellites let us observe the oceans on a scale that is unachievable from the Earth below. The ability to measure sea levels, currents, and tide patterns across a large part of the ocean mass is essential. Observing the sea levels with advanced technology and instruments makes tracking climate change much easier.
We can also observe and track greenhouse gas emissions to understand how they change over time. By observing the atmosphere, greenhouse gases, and sea levels, we can watch climate change occur in real-time. This luxury, paired with talented teams collaborating on creating solutions, is essential to fighting the effects of climate change.
2. Disaster Response
NASA collects data from the atmosphere and the ocean to understand weather patterns and geological activities. Such information contributes to climate predictions, which can help prepare us for extreme weather events. Mapping such patterns makes predicting disasters like hurricanes and tsunamis much easier.
That is important as this information can protect countless people who live in coastal towns and cities. The more we understand the effect climate change has on the ocean, the more easily we can prepare solutions for natural disasters.
Catching natural disasters early can also aid emergency services in getting a head start on disaster response. For example, issuing hurricane alerts as early as possible ensures people can evacuate on time.
3. Resource Management
The oceans make up nearly 71% of the Earth’s surface, and they contain so many invaluable resources. Minerals, fish, fossil fuels, and plants are all salvaged from the oceans. Many economies rely on the oceans’ resources to thrive and maintain order.
Similarly, many civilizations rely on seafood and would be negatively affected by shortages. Observing the oceans from outer space can help us understand their condition. After all, resource depletion can affect the environment, economy, and livelihood of millions of people.
Space Exploration Isn’t Without Its Faults
Naturally, space exploration requires lots of energy and fossil fuels. Many people debate whether the benefits of space exploration outweigh the environmental downsides. The accompanying debris and pollutants from space exploration can harm marine animals.
This can contaminate the water, and it’s hard to fix the negative effects once pollutants settle. The negative impact of space travel has a lot to do with the existence of space law. Space law enforces accountability for entities involved in space exploration.
This is important considering the damage that comes along with rocket fuel and spacecraft parts landing in the oceans. Space exploration provides great insights into the oceans and climate change, but it can also contribute to climate change and ozone depletion. That’s why we must continually evolve, innovate, and take responsibility each step of the way through space exploration.
Observing the Oceans From Beyond is All About Accountability
While space technology and exploration can hurt the environment, they can also provide profound insights. Such insights have helped us understand more about our effect on the environment and track changes over time. Using aerospace resources responsibly is key to ensuring the negatives don’t outweigh the positives.
