Note: Single-source report; awaiting corroboration.
NASA’s PACE satellite, launched in February 2024, collects daily hyperspectral data across visible, ultraviolet, near-infrared, and shortwave infrared wavelengths, enabling detailed observations of Earth’s oceans, atmosphere, and land surfaces.
Using ultraviolet measurements, PACE tracked a large dust plume from North Africa moving westward over the Atlantic Ocean in August 2025, as well as a separate plume traced to wildfire smoke from the United States and Canada.
During wildfires in the greater Los Angeles area in January 2025, PACE data enabled researchers to distinguish between small, sooty smoke particles and larger particles such as dust and sea salt. The satellite’s instruments also measured the progression and intensity of the fires, providing valuable information to emergency responders.
PACE data also contribute to water quality monitoring by detecting potentially harmful cyanobacteria blooms in freshwater ecosystems such as the Great Lakes, issuing warnings to managers of reservoirs and recreational sites.
Overall, the PACE satellite’s advanced instruments support comprehensive analysis of Earth’s environment, from ocean color and atmospheric particles to land vegetation and algal growth.