ESA - Observing the Earth - Envisat celebrates first anniversary in space

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Envisat celebrates first anniversary in space

28 February 2003

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Credits: ESA

All instruments fully operational

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1 March 2002: Envisat soars into orbit

Credits: ESA/CNES/Arianespace-S. Corvaja

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Envisat's ASAR image acquired 17 November 2002 shows a double-headed oil spill originating from the stricken Prestige tanker, lying 100 km off the Spanish coast.

Credits: ESA

Envisat enters initial operational phase

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Envisat's MERIS captures image of a phytoplankton bloom off the Norwegian coast

Credits: ESA

Ten eyes on natural and man-made events

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Etna, Europe's highest and most active volcano (3370 m) hurled lava and ash from several craters into the sky with a speed between 350 and 450 metres per second, exceeding the speed of sound. According to data from volcanologists, the lava and ash were ejected from the main crater and from at least nine new craters that developed in the mountain between 2300 to 2700 metres in altitude.
As seen in the image acquired Monday by the Medium Resolution Imaging Spectrometer (MERIS) onboard ESA’s Envisat satellite, the eruptions spewed significant amounts of ash, along with sulphur dioxide, into the atmosphere The plume from the volcano can be seen in the image stretching south and west from Sicily to the north African coast. The larger volcanic ash particles are expected to settle out in a short period of time, but the sulphuric acid aerosols produced by the sulphur dioxide will persist for several years.
These aerosols will impact the Earth’s energy budget, both regionally and on a global scale. Aerosols containing black graphite and carbon particles are dark, thus absorbing sunlight. As these atmospheric particles reduce the amount of sunlight reaching the planet’s surface, they increase the amount of solar energy absorbed in the atmosphere, thus simultaneously cooling the surface and warming the atmosphere.
The capability of the MERIS instrument to observe the spatial distribution of these aerosol plumes can be exploited to measure the amounts of airborne particles and to examine the role of these aerosols as cloud condensation nuclei and their impact on the hydrologic cycle through changes in cloud cover, cloud properties and precipitation.

Technical Information: Instruments: MEdium Resolution Imaging Spectrometer (MERIS)
Date of Acquisition: 28 October 2002
Orbit number: 03454
Instrument features: Reduced Resolution image (1200-meter resolution)

Credits: ESA

Sensor synergy

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This image shows the recent hurricane Isidore passing over the Gulf of Mexico and demonstrates how features related to all of the principal dynamics can be observed. These images, MERIS optical and ASAR imagery over the same area of the earth, were acquired simultaneously. Cloud structure as seen from above the hurricane can be combined with sea surface roughness effects from the hurricane base at unprecedented spatial resolution.
From MERIS the classical circulation pattern can be traced with the cloud structure around the hurricane centre as warm moist air is entrained into the system. The eye can be clearly identified together with the thick cloud structures associated with the convection within the eye wall. The higher altitude outflow can be seen extending over Cuba as systems of thunderstorms.
From ASAR intense precipitation can be seen as two curves of dark patches extending out around the northern edge in a wide arc and close to the southern side of the hurricane eye. The eye itself can be seen as the low backscatter area in the centre of the system. Additional dark areas close to the coast of Mexico are due to the land generating areas of relative shelter where local wind speeds are reduced and hence sea surface roughness is lower.

Technical Information:
Instruments: MEdium Resolution Imaging Spectrometer (MERIS) Advanced Synthetic Aperture Radar (ASAR)
Date of Acquisition: 21 September 2002
Orbit number: 02928
MERIS Instrument features: Reduced Resolution image (1200-meter resolution)
Radar Mode: WS
Orbit Direction: Descending
Radar Polarisation: VV

Credits: ESA

Political impact in Johannesburg

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APP, GOMOS, ozone hole, data, envisat one year, 24sept2002

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A plot of ozone concentrations showing the polar vortex breakup in September 2002. The data was acquired by the GOMOS sensor onboard Envisat and used to check the instrument's accuracy.

Credits: ESA/ACRI-ST/CNES

A look ahead

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Envisat is a truly advanced Earth observation 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 exceed those of any previous or planned Earth observation satellite. It will be launched in 2002 by an Ariane-5 launcher.

Credits: ESA/Denmann production

Validation workshop assesses Envisat's instruments Envisat Validation Campaign takes-off ASAR reveals extent of Presige oil spill Envisat's MERIS dissects phytoplankton bloom The power of two: ASAR/MERIS combined An iceberg is born in the Antarctic Envisat and the Elbe floods Ice-bound ship receives Envisat imagery First Envisat check-up of the Earth ASAR explained ASAR - The story in pictures MERIS - The story in pictures Artemis - total loss to total recovery More about Artemis

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Press Releases

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