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Earth Sciences Division
Operational

Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem (PACE)

PACE is NASA's Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem mission. It launched on February 8, 2024, extending and improving NASA's over 20-year record of satellite observations of global ocean biology, aerosols (tiny particles suspended in the atmosphere), and clouds.

Launch Date
January 2024
Class
--
Website
Key Staffs
  • Ocean Color Atmospheric Correction Lead
  • Science Data Segment Manager
  • Science Data Segment Deputy Manager
  • Polarimeter Lead
  • Project Scientist
  • Deputy Project Scientist
  • Deputy Project Scientist
  • Instrument Scientist
  • Senior Scientist
  • Senior Scientist
  • Senior Scientist

PACE is NASA's Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem mission. It launched on February 8, 2024, extending and improving NASA's over 20-year record of satellite observations of global ocean biology, aerosols (tiny particles suspended in the atmosphere), and clouds.

PACE will advance the assessment of ocean health by measuring the distribution of phytoplankton, tiny plants and algae that sustain the marine food web. It will also continue systematic records of key atmospheric variables associated with air quality and Earth's climate.

Related Publications

2025. "Hyperspectral calibration of OCI and on-orbit results.", Sensors, Systems, and Next-Generation Satellites XXIX, 11 [10.1117/12.3074926] [Proceedings]

2025. "Hyperspectral design of the Ocean Color Instrument on the NASA PACE mission and its significance for science.", Sensors, Systems, and Next-Generation Satellites XXIX, 10 [10.1117/12.3072749] [Proceedings]

2025. "Practical aspects of providing pixel-level spectral Rrs error covariance in satellite ocean color products.", Frontiers in Remote Sensing, 6 1670390 [10.3389/frsen.2025.1670390] [Journal Article/Letter]

2019. "Inversion of multi-angular polarimetric measurements over open and coastal ocean waters: a joint retrieval algorithm for aerosol and water leaving radiance properties.", Atmospheric Measurement Techniques, 12 (7): 3921–3941 [10.5194/amt-12-3921-2019] [Journal Article/Letter]

2020. "Neural Network Reflectance Prediction Model for Both Open Ocean and Coastal Waters.", Remote Sensing, 12 (9): 1421 [10.3390/rs12091421] [Journal Article/Letter]