Earth’s energy imbalance (EEI) is a key indicator of climate change, while greenhouse gases are major drivers of changes in the Earth’s radiative balance. These quantities are usually observed by separate satellite missions.
We investigate the potential of the UVSQ-SAT, INSPIRE-SAT 7, and UVSQ-SAT NG missions to provide complementary observations of Earth’s radiation budget and atmospheric composition. Broadband measurements from UVSQ-SAT and INSPIRE-SAT 7, combined with CERES observations, are used to characterize EEI variability over 2021–2025, yielding a mean value of 0.87 ± 0.23 W m⁻² and marked interannual variations.
Launched in March 2025, UVSQ-SAT NG extends these radiometric observations and adds near-infrared spectroscopy from 1.1 to 2.0 μm. Nadir and solar-occultation measurements probe absorption bands of CO₂, CH₄, O₂, and H₂O. Initial retrievals demonstrate sensitivity to these molecular signatures and the potential of a compact CubeSat spectrometer for atmospheric-composition measurements.
These results illustrate how small satellites can jointly contribute to monitoring Earth’s radiative imbalance and atmospheric composition, complementing reference climate missions and supporting future distributed observing systems.
Local contact : Henri Triou
Organisation : Jérôme Guilet
LATMOS (Laboratoire Atmosphères, Milieux, Observations Spatiales)