Studying the water cycle in tropical areas

Thermal exchanges of energy between the oceans and the atmosphere in the tropical zone have an effect on the global climate of the planet. However, at the current time, due to our ilmited knowledge of how the water cycle interacts with atmospheric circulation, we are not able to predict climatic events in the tropical zone (cyclones, monsoons, floods or droughts) with any certainty. This is why studying the energy budget in this part of the globe is a priority for climate investigation.

The French-Indian mission, Megha-Tropiques, will provide scientific data on the contribution of the water cycle to the tropical atmosphere, with information on condensed water in clouds, water vapour in the atmosphere, precipitation, and evaporation. It will also measure the radiation budget at the top of the atmosphere. With its circular orbit inclined 20° to the equator, the Megha-Tropiques microsatellite is a unique instrument for climate research that should also aid scientists seeking to refine prediction models.

The project is being conducted jointly with the Indian space agency (ISRO) :

• ISRO is responsible for the system and the satellite. It will provide the launcher, the platform, part of the Madras instrument and the mission control centre.
• CNES is providing support at the system level and will also provide the Saphir and Scarab instruments and the microwave part of the Madras instrument.

Processing of the scientific data will be divided between a centre in India and the ICARE skills centre in France.