THE LIVING PLANET

Satellites are unique in their ability to constantly monitor the entire Earth, providing crucial information about our ever-changing planet. From space, we monitor many natural and man-made events from floods and forest fires, to changes in ice cover, rising sea levels and oil slicks.

ESA’s Earth observation satellites have given Europe a leading role in understanding the global environment. Since 1978, the Meteosat series of weather satellites has provided a wealth of data for the meteorology community, while Envisat and the ERS remote-sensing satellites have allowed scientists to build almost 20 years of data sets on environmental phenomena and climate change.

The Earth Explorer satellites are giving scientists breakthrough technologies to address specific issues and to learn more about the interaction between the atmosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere, cryosphere and the interior, and the impact that human activity is having on Earth’s natural processes.

The Earth Watch missions will ensure continuity of data sets and provide operational services. Developed with Eumetsat, two Meteosat Second Generation satellites and MetOp-A, Europe’s first polar-orbiting meteorological satellite, are now operational. Five Sentinel satellites are under development, as part of the EU’s Global Monitoring for the Environment and Security, GMES, initiative.