The French Space Agency (CNES) has chosen Airbus to develop and construct two next-generation microwave radiometers as part of the CCOMODO project (Convective Core Observations through MicrOwave Derivatives in the trOpics), which is France’s contribution to the Atmosphere Observing System (AOS). The aim of AOS, a collaboration involving the US, Canada, Japan, Italy, and France, is to optimize our understanding of the relationships among aerosols, clouds, atmospheric convection, and precipitation. It will give vital information for better weather, air quality, and climate forecasts. It will use six satellites and suborbital platforms both on ground and in the air.
Climate missions are a top focus at Airbus. Alain Fauré, Head of Space Systems at Airbus, stated, “After the launch of EarthCARE, we’re honoured to join another NASA-led climate mission with international partners. Thanks to CNES for supporting European industry; this contract strengthens Airbus’s role in advancing our understanding of clouds, weather, and climate.”
The first-ever worldwide picture of convective storm precipitation qualities and vertical air motions will be made possible by C²OMODO. This will make it possible to make two significant advancements: first, a better understanding of the formation of severe precipitation; second, a better representation of these processes in computer weather models, which will boost global weather forecasting.
