Successful launch of CryoSat-2
Posted on the 05.05.2010 by Michel Brent
During the Arctic Arc Expedirion of 2007, Alain Hubert and Dixie Dansercoer had collected snow samples during the entire crossing of the arctic ice pack. The datas have been made on behalf of ESA as a technical partner for the further launching of the new european satellite CryoSat-2.
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CryoSat-2, successor to CryoSat, was launched successfully from Baikonur, Kazakhstan on April 8th, 2010. The freshly launched satellite will provide accurate data on the variations of ice thickness in the Polar Regions, whether on land or on the sea surface. CryoSat-2, the third of the Earth Explorer satellites to have been launched in the past year, is part of a larger European effort to better understand the impact of climate change on these remote, yet sensitive regions.
Flashback on the Arctic Arc Expedition (2007)
Back in 2007, Alain Hubert, President of the International Polar foundation took snow depth measurements during his “Arctic Arc Expedition”. This crossing from Siberia to Greenland, covering 1,654 kilometers in 106 days, was an ideal opportunity for the ESA to collect precious data that would contribute significantly to the validation of the CryoSat mission.
Representing the IPF at the CryoSat-2 launch event at Darmstadt, Germany, Executive Director Thierry Touchais underlined the need for better education around polar sciences and climate to bring citizens to a sound level of awareness and knowledge about the complex issues of climate.
Speech of Thierry Touchais, Executive Director of the International Polar Foundation, at the CryoSat-2 Launch Event of April 8th, 2010 in Darmstadt, Germany
Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is an honor for the International Polar Foundation to be invited to such a unique event, the launch of ESA’s CryoSat mission. And it is with great pleasure that I represent the IPF today in Darmstadt. The IPF is a private foundation established in 2002 by Alain Hubert, engineer, entrepreneur and polar explorer, and professors André Berger, climatologist, and Hugo Decleir, glaciologist.
IPF acts as a bridge between science and society, with a focus on polar sciences and climate. The IPF mission can be summarized in three words: information, education and demonstration. Our goal is to bring citizens to a sound level of awareness and knowledge about the complex issues of climate, enticing them to take action against climate change and aim for a lower carbon emission lifestyle.
Where do we fit in today?
Back in 2007, from Feb to June, Alain Hubert and teammate Dixie Dansercoer did achieve the Arctic Arc expedition, first unassisted crossing from Siberia to Greenland through the North Pole. 1654 km in 106 days, with ESA as a technical partner.
Throughout his journey, Alain did take snow depth measurements on sea ice to deliver to ESA a unique set of data… thus contributing to the validation program of the CryoSat mission, and helping understand the effects that overlying snow can have on the measurements of ice elevation and thickness.Such an expedition would have been incomplete without its associated educational program about polar sciences and climate that the IPF did run in parallel to the crossing.
Educated workforce and far-reaching decisions
Indeed, our future and the future of upcoming generations does rely on an educated workforce and on the capacity of our elected representatives to take far-reaching decisions and pave the way for their implementation.
We’ve just started a new EU legislature, the next five years will be a “make it or break it” period for climate and society: what a challenging task… but what a beautiful one!
Acting itself in its demonstration mode, the IPF has just successfully completed the Princess Elisabeth Antarctica project with the support of its private and public partners, the first “Zero Emission” polar research station.
First "Zero Emission" polar research station
Princess Elisabeth is truly unique, and it was hailed as a landmark by the international community in April 2009 during the Antarctic Treaty 50th anniversary celebrations in Washington DC.
PEA is essentially an advanced engineering design based on a micro smart grid to manage energy production and usage, with an installed power one third of usually installed standards, thus allowing to rely exclusively on renewable energies.
Such an innovative grid was made possible through the engineering contributions of PEA partners, GDF Suez and Schneider Electric. The intelligent system allows to monitor and to drive remotely the facility and its scientific experiments through a satellite link installed this past season with support from SES.
This demonstrates the importance of R&D to create the new products, systems and services made necessary by our obligation to reach a lower carbon lifestyle, to launch a sustainably growing economy with all associated job creations.
"If we can do it in antarctica, we can do it around here !"
Indeed, beyond its support to polar science, PEA carries the message “If we can do it out there in Antarctica, we definitely can do it around here!” Today, we need a real paradigm change, a transformation of our mindsets, not a “too little, too late” approach. We need a vision, an ambitious goal that will allow our societies to embark on a bold project bringing together all stakeholders. It is a matter of leadership and cooperation: cooperation between countries, within countries, between government and private sector, between industry and academia, between citizens.
In the aftermath of Copenhagen, opinion polls in several countries indicate some degree of erosion in public concern and public trust about global warming.
Solving the challenge of public inertia or paralysis on climate change issues will only be successfully achieved through education and an efficient communication addressing the various categories of population.
A novel way of creating a science – society interface
The International Polar Foundation has found a novel way of creating a science – society interface that will contribute to this objective.The Polaris Climate Change Observatory (PCCO). The Polaris is many things:
- Evoking the Pole Star, it is a reference, a guiding light and a meeting place
- An international project, with local partnerships. First venue is Brussels, capital of Europe, opening in 2013.
- A thing of beauty, celebrating the stark polar landscapes that inspired the Foundation
- A showcase for scientific research where rationality and methodology signpost the route to knowledge
- A science centre unwrapping climate complexities, for all levels
- A place where innovation for sustainable and energy efficient buildings, vehicles and processes can be explored and explainedA venue for bringing together decision makers and civil society
- An encouragement to intelligent action…
Indeed, a proactive stance is expected from each of us as we ought to first dream, then define and finally manage our own sustainable future.
Ladies and Gentlemen, I thank you for your attention.
Good journey to CryoSat-2!
More information are available on the ESA website.
Thierry Touchais, the IPF executive director, during his speech at CryoSat-2 launch event at ESOC (8 April 2010)
© ESA
