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| | | | | | | A decade of ERS Earth-watching
17 July 2001
| | | | | | Like its predecessor ERS-1 (launched in July 1991 by Ariane 4 and successfully put into orbit at an altitude of some 780 km), the ERS-2 satellite launched on 21.04.95 by Ariane 4, monitors the Earth day and night under all weather conditions thanks to its powerful sharp-eyed, cloud-piercing radars. ERS-2 also carries an instrument to help monitor the ozone layer around the Earth. | |  |  | |
| | | | | The image shows the area of Turkey affected by the earthquake which occured on 17 August 1999. The image was generated from an ERS-SAR tandem pair acquired on the 12th and 13th of August 1999, i.e. 4-5 days before the earthquake.
Credits: ESA | | | | |
| | | | | | Surface winds around Antarctica (strongest in yellow-tinted areas) as seen by the radar scatterometer on ERS-1. | | | | |
| | | | | On the 2nd October 1994 the Panamanian oil tanker Cercal struck a rock while entering the harbour of Leixoes (the Oporto harbour), releasing about 1.000 tonnes of crude oil into the sea. The ESA ERS-1 satellite acquired this SAR image two days after the accident. Because of the damping effect of the oil, the reduced roughness of the sea surface appears clearly as a black mark on the SAR image. The spill can be seen floating along the coast and out into the sea. The coastal city of Oporto, lying near the centre of the oil spill, appears as a cluster of white dots. The rainy and foggy weather that prevailed in that region of Portugal on the date of the accident made it very difficult to evaluate the spill from an aircraft. However, thanks to the all-weather capabilities of the ERS-1 SAR instrument it was possible to acquire this very useful scene through the cloud cover. (Image processed by ESA's Earth Watching Team)
Credits: ESA | | | | |
| | | | | Envisat is a truly advanced Earth observing satellite with a unique combination of sensors that will vastly improve the range and accuracy of scientific measurements of the atmosphere, oceans, land surface and ice. Its total range of capabilities far exceeds those of any previous or planned Earth observation satellite. It will be launched in the year 2001 by an Ariane 5.
The picture shows integration of the complete Envisat/Polar Platform Flight Model in ESA ESTEC centre.
Credits: ESA/A.Van Der Geest | | | | |
| | | | | Deforestation areas appear in light-coloured linear features of relatively high temperatures, in this thermal image from ERS-2. Photo: Leicester University
Credits: Leicester University | | | | |
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| | Related articles Info Note 06-2001: Keen eyes in the sky - 3650 days and runningSatellite view aids Saône flood mappingESA ERS data shows West Antarctica is thinningSatellite sniffs out chemical traces of atmospheric pollutionSatellites help to clean up the seaRelated links ERS 1 and 2ERS homepageERS InstrumentsEarth Observation HomepageESA's Earth Watching website
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