Oceanography from space is a young science, the first ocean observation satellite having being launched in the late 70s. Since then, an increasing number of missions have been launched, from exploration to a new era of systematic operational monitoring of the ocean.
Through remote sensing from orbits high above the Earth, satellites provide long-term, continuous, global, high space and time resolution data for key ocean parameters measured at surface level: sea level and ocean circulation, sea surface temperature, salinity, ocean colour, sea ice, waves, and winds. These are the observational core variables required for global, regional and coastal ocean monitoring and forecasting systems. They are also needed to validate them. Only satellite measurements can, in particular, provide observations at high space and time resolution to partly resolve the mesoscale and coastal variability. Satellite data can also be directly used for applications, such as sea ice and oil pollution monitoring, ocean colour for water quality monitoring).
The EU, through its Copernicus Earth Observation programme in cooperation with EUMETSAT and the European Space Agency contributes to providing satellite ocean observations. Space missions carried out by National Space Agencies in EU member states, and joint international missions also contribute significantly to the collection of ocean data by satellites.
Copernicus Satellite Component
www.copernicus.eu
The Copernicus Programme is the European Union’s Earth Observation Programme, looking at our planet and its environment for the ultimate benefit of all European and global citizens. Copernicus is served by a set of dedicated satellites (the Sentinel families) and contributing missions (existing commercial and public satellites). The Sentinel satellites are specifically designed to meet the needs of the Copernicus services and their users. Since the launch of Sentinel-1A in 2014, the European Union set in motion a process to place a constellation of almost 20 more satellites in orbit before 2030.
The European Space Agency (ESA) is responsible for the development of the space segment component of the Copernicus programme and the launch of the dedicated satellites (Sentinels 1, 2, 3 and mostly recently 6). EUMETSAT operates the satellites, in cooperation with ESA, and delivers marine data (ocean colour, sea surface temperature and sea surface topography) on behalf of the EU. ESA and EUMETSAT also coordinate the delivery of data from over 30 satellites that form the Contributing Missions.
European Space Agency (ESA)
www.esa.int
With its fleet of Earth observation satellites, the European Space Agency (ESA) watches over the ocean to support humanity to monitor and protect the environment, as well as to adapt to any changes. ESA develops, builds and launches the dedicated Copernicus satellites. It also operates some of the missions and ensures the availability of data from third party missions. To read more, click here.
EUMETSAT - European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites
www.eumetsat.int
EUMETSAT delivers a range of ocean products to the Copernicus Marine Service. Along with data from the Sentinel missions, EUMETSAT provides data and products from EUMETSAT’s Metop and Meteosat satellite series, and from missions of EUMETSAT’s international partners (e.g. Jason 3). For more information on how EUMETSAT uses satellites to collect data and monitor the ocean, click here.
