Century-long monitoring of solar irradiance and Earth's albedo using a stable scattering target in space

Abstract

An inert sphere of a few metres diameter, placed in a special stable geosynchronous orbit in perpetuo, can be used for a variety of scientific experiments. Ground-based observations of such a sphere, 'GeoSphere', can resolve very difficult problems in measuring the long-term solar irradiance. GeoSpheremeasurementswill also help us understand the evolution of Earth's albedo and climate over at least the next century.