Producing an image of the atmosphere that can be examined at many altitudes is a key advantage of the Imaging Fourier Transform Spectrometer. For example, if a scientist wants to see the amount of water vapor in a given area, the instrument's data can be used to analyze only the water vapor, to the exclusion of all other variables. NMP was created to identify, develop, and space-test breakthrough measurement techniques and technologies that will enable new capabilities or significantly lower costs of existing capabilities for science missions in the 21st century. Testing and validation of the technological breakthroughs need to be conducted in space. A Key to Improved Weather Predictions Water vapor absorbs energy emitted from Earth.
Water vapor reaches the atmosphere through the evaporation of ocean and lake water.
Clouds form when water vapor is cooled by being lifted or by being forced upward as the air flows across higher terrain. Water vapor and clouds have a very strong influence on Earth's climate system. When water vapor transforms to a cloud, energy is produced that fuels severe weather such as tornadoes and hurricanes. These updates will prove extremely valuable to meteorologists analyzing severe weather systems, particularly the development and movement of intense weather. A similar water vapor tracing approach is used now with current weather satellites, but it only provides winds in a single vertical layer high in the atmosphere.