Since 1991, when the Agency’s first Earth-observation satellite ERS-1 was launched, ESA satellites have been providing scientists with crucial environmental data gathered from space. Climate change and the chemistry of our atmosphere, including ozone depletion and many other pressing questions, call for the availability of global satellite data sets if we are to gain a better understanding of the Earth as a global system. We still lack precise data sets showing the evolution of the sea ice and the land ice – a key parameter for the modelling and forecasting of our climate. Read online
This issue of the Bulletin carries a special
feature on the soon to be launched Cryosat mission, whose data will fill this critical gap in our knowledge. The three articles provide an overview of this latest ESA Earth-observation mission, its scientific goals and the unique data products that it will provide.
Read entire foreword by V. Liebig (Director of ESA Earth Observation Programmes)
