The Earth was observed radiating energy into space for the first time from the Moon

Scientists from the Chinese Academy of Sciences have been able to study how the Earth emits energy for the first time by observing it from the Moon. This process, called radiation balance, shows how much energy the planet receives from the Sun and how much it releases back into space. Understanding these processes is important for predicting global climate change. The results were published inJournal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres.

“From the Moon, the Earth is completely visible, like one ball. This makes it possible to identify dominant planetary-scale signals and suppress the influence of local weather,” explained Dr. Ye Hanlin from the Institute of Atmospheric Physics.

Earth Imprints

Researchers have found that about 90% of the variations in energy that the Earth emits into space can be explained using special mathematical models called first- and second-order spherical harmonics. Simply put, these models help“separate” global processes on the planet, such as the distribution of heat and light, from random and local fluctuations, for example, associated with cloudiness or rain.They can be thought of as Earth’s unique fingerprints, revealing the planet’s radiation patterns and helping to distinguish large, persistent patterns from temporary weather noise.

“These harmonics help us see global features clearly. They show how energy is distributed across the planet and changes over time,” said Professor Guo Huadong

Cycles and rhythms of the planet

The Earth’s radiation does not change randomly. The phases of the Moon create monthly fluctuations that capture sector harmonics. The sidereal month and its half cycles reflect the latitude shift of the observation point. And daily fluctuations show how the rotation of the Earth changes the viewing angle and visible radiation zones.

The advantage of lunar observations

Traditional satellites, whether low orbit or geostationary, face limitations: they either cover a small portion of the surface or do not provide continuous surveillance. From the Moon, the planet is visible entirely and constantly, which makes it possible to obtain long-term data without interruptions.

“The lunar platform provides a long-term and holistic picture of the Earth. We can assess global changes with high accuracy and identify patterns that were previously hidden,” added Dr. Hanlin

Implications for science and climate

The data allows us to better estimate global warming, model climate change, and improve forecasts related to atmospheric circulation and the distribution of energy on the planet.

“From the Moon, we can see the entire Earth, and this is critical for understanding the global radiation balance. These data give scientists new opportunities to accurately measure the energy that the planet loses to space and to monitor climate processes,” concluded Professor Guo

Observations from the Moon help link local processes such as cloud cover or surface changes to global fluctuations in radiation. In the future, this will make it possible to create accurate climate models and predict the effects of global changes, including warming, rain and drought cycles, and the energy balance of the atmosphere.