News - Thematic area articles

Transforming space data into climate action

ESA’s Earth observation activities are playing a key role in the revitalised global drive to combat climate change.

Activity - Projects

Dragon 2 Cooperation Programme

The Dragon 2 Programme focussed on the exploitation of ESA, ESA's Third Party Missions and Chinese Earth observation data for science and applications development in land, ocean and atmospheric applications.

Event - Training

2nd Advanced Training Course on Ocean Remote Sensing 2009

This advanced training course focused on ocean remote sensing theory and applications.

News - Data Release news

New reprocessing of datasets celebrates 30 years of ERS

The ERS programme celebrated its 30th anniversary on 17 July. Today, we are still exploiting ERS data and experts continue to work on improving the altimeter, radiometer and SAR data the programme acquired.

Tools - Apps

Heritage Missions app for iOS

Download the Heritage Missions application to discover what the missions were about, how it worked and what the elements of the space and ground segment that make these missions unique.

Tools - Apps

Heritage Missions app for Android

Download the Heritage Missions application to discover what the missions were about, how it worked and what the elements of the space and ground segment that make these missions unique.

Data - Fast Registration with approval (Restrained)

TerraSAR-X ESA archive

The TerraSAR-X ESA archive collection consists of TerraSAR-X and TanDEM-X products requested by ESA supported projects over their areas of interest around the world. The dataset regularly grows as ESA collects new products over the years. TerraSAR-X/TanDEM-X Image Products can be acquired in 6 image modes with flexible resolutions (from 0.25m to 40m) and scene sizes. Thanks to different polarimetric combinations and processing levels the delivered imagery can be tailored specifically to meet the requirements of the application. The following list delineates the characteristics of the SAR imaging modes that are disseminated under ESA Third Party Missions (TPM). StripMap (SM): Resolution 3 m, Scene size 30x50 km2 (up to 30x1650 km2) SpotLight (SL): Resolution 2 m, Scene size 10x10 km2 Staring SpotLight (ST): Resolution 0.25m, Scene size 4x3.7 km2 High Resolution SpotLight (HS): Resolution 1 m, Scene size 10x5 km2 ScanSAR (SC): Resolution 18 m, Scene size 100x150 km2 (up to 100x1650 km2) Wide ScanSAR (WS): Resolution 40 m, Scene size 270x200 km2 (up to 270x1500 km2) The following list briefly delineates the available processing levels for the TerraSAR-X dataset: SSC (Single Look Slant Range Complex) in DLR-defined COSAR binary format MGD (Multi Look Ground Range Detected) in GeoTiff format • GEC (Geocoded Ellipsoid Corrected) in GeoTiff format EEC (Enhanced Ellipsoid Corrected in GeoTiff format Spatial coverage: Check the spatial coverage of the collection on a map available on the Third Party Missions Dissemination Service. As per ESA policy, very high-resolution data over conflict areas cannot be provided.

Data - Project Proposal (Restrained)

TerraSAR-X/TanDEM-X full archive and tasking

TerraSAR-X/TanDEM-X full archive and new tasking products can be acquired in six image modes with flexible resolutions (from 0.25 m to 40 m) and scene sizes and are provided in different packages: Staring SpotLight (basic, Interferometric pack, and Maritime pack) High Resolution SpotLight (basic, Interferometric pack, and Maritime pack) SpotLight (basic, Interferometric pack, and Maritime pack) StripMap (basic, Interferometric pack, and Maritime pack) ScanSAR (basic and Maritime pack) Wide ScanSAR (basic and Maritime pack) Product Overview Products SAR-ST SAR-HS SAR-SL SAR-SM SAR-SC SAR-WS Instrument mode Staring Spotlight High Resolution SpotLight SpotLight StripMap ScanSAR Wide ScanSAR Available resolutions (up to) 0.25 m 1 m 2 m 3 m 18 m 40 m Scene size 4x3.7 km2 10x5 km2 10x10 km2 30x50 km2 (up to 30x1650) 100x150 km2 (up to 100x1650) 270x200 km2 (up to 270x1500) Available processing levels SSC (Single Look Slant Range Complex): azimuth - slant range (time domain) MGD (Multi Look Ground Range Detected): azimuth - ground range (without terrain correction) GEC (Geocoded Ellipsoid Corrected): map geometry with ellipsoidal corrections only (no terrain correction performed) EEC (Enhanced Ellipsoid Corrected): map geometry with terrain correction, using a DEM Format SSC: DLR-defined COSAR binary MGD: GeoTiff GEC: GeoTiff EEC: GeoTiff Spatial coverage Worldwide Interferometry package InSAR-ST, InSAR-HS, InSAR-SL, InSAR-SM Only SSC At least five ordered scenes within six months from first order N/A N/A Maritime Monitoring package MmSAR-ST, MmSAR-HS, MmSAR-SL, MmSAR-SM, MmSAR-SC, MmSAR-WS Only SSC, MGD, GEC At least 75% of the scene area is water More than five ordered scenes in three months The following WorldDEM products can be requested: Products Description WorldDEMcore WorldDEMcore is output of interferometric processing of StripMap data pairs without any post-processing WorldDEMTM WorldDEMTM is produced based on WorldDEMcore, representing the surface of the Earth (including buildings, infrastructure and vegetation). Hydrological consistency is ensured WorldDEM DTM In additional editing steps, WorldDEMTMis transformed into a Digital Terrain Model (DTM) representing bare Earth elevation WorldDEM Bundle Includes WorldDEMTM, WorldDEM DTM, and Quality Layers The main specifications of the WorldDEM products are: Horizontal Coordinate Reference System: World Geodetic System 1984 (WGS84-G1150) Vertical Coordinate Reference System: Earth Gravitational Model 2008 (EGM2008) Absolute Horizontal Accuracy: <6 m Vertical Accuracy: 2 m Relative, 4 m Absolute Quality Layers (including water body mask) can be requested as an option with the WorldDEM and WorldDEM DTM Auxiliary Layers are delivered together with the WorldDEMcore product As per ESA policy, very high-resolution data over conflict areas cannot be provided.

Data - Fast Registration with immediate access (Open)

ERS-1/2 SCATTEROMETER Ocean Wind field and Sea Ice probability [ASPS20.H/ASPS20.N]

The ASPS Level 2 products contain, for each node: the radar backscattering sigma nought for the three beams of the instrument, the four aliased wind solutions (Rank 1-4 wind vector) and the de-aliased wind vector flag, the sea-ice probability and sea-ice flag, the YAW quality flag. The wind retrieval is performed with the CMOD5N geophysical model function derived by ECMWF to compute the neutral winds rather than 10 m winds. ASPS L2.0 High resolution products are provided with a spatial resolution of 25x25 km and a grid spacing of 12.5 km. ASPS L2.0 Nominal resolution products are provided with a spatial resolution of 50x50 km and a grid spacing of 25 km. One product covers one orbit from ascending node crossing. Please consult the Product Quality Readme file before using the ERS ASPS data.

Data - Data Service Request (Restrained)

ERS-1/2 SAR IM L0 [SAR_IM__0P]

This SAR Level 0 product is acquired in Image Mode. The products consist of the SAR telemetry data and are supplied as standard scenes. It also contains all the required auxiliary data necessary for data processing. The product serves two main purposes: For testing ERS SAR processors independently from the HDDR system For users interested in full SAR data processing. Product characteristics: Scene area: 100 km (range - across track) x full segment length (azimuth - along track) Scene size: 5616 samples (range) x full segment length (azimuth) Pixel depth: 10 bits signed integer (5 bits I, 5 bits Q) Projection: Slant range.

Data - EO Sign In Authentication (Open)

ERS-1/2 SAR IM Medium Resolution L1 [SAR_IMM_1P]

This ERS Medium Resolution stripline product is generated from the Image Mode Level 0 Product. Stripline image products contain image data for an entire segment, up to a maximum size of 10 minutes per product for IM mode. The processor concatenates together several sub-images called "slices" that were processed separately on a dataset-by-dataset basis in order to form the entire stripline image. The product is processed to an approximately 150 m x 150 m resolution and has a radiometric resolution that is good enough for ice applications. This product has a lower spatial resolution than the SAR_IMP_1P and SAR_IMS_1P products. Product Characteristics: Pixel size: 5 m (ground range – across track) x 75 m (azimuth – along track) Scene area: 100 km (range) x at least 102.5 km Scene Size: 1300 pixels (range) x at least 1350 lines (azimuth) Pixel depth: 16 bits unsigned integer- Total product volume: at least 3.5 MB Projection: Ground-range Number of looks: 8 (azimuth) x 7 (range).

Data - EO Sign In Authentication (Open)

ERS-1/2 SAR IM Single Look Complex L1 [SAR_IMS_1P]

The SAR SLC product is a single look complex acquired in Image Mode. It is a digital image, with slant range and phase preserved, generated from raw SAR data using up-to-date auxiliary parameters. The products are intended for use in SAR quality assessment, calibration and interferometric applications. A minimum number of corrections and interpolations are performed on the data. Absolute calibration parameters (when available) are provided in the product annotation. Product characteristics: Pixel size: 8 m (range - across track) x 4 m (azimuth - along track – varying slightly depending on acquisition Pulse Repetition Frequency) Scene area: 100 km (range) x at least 102.5 km (azimuth) Scene size: 5000 samples (range) x at least 30000 lines (azimuth) Pixel depth: 32 bits signed integer (16 bits I, 16 bits Q) Total product volume: 575 MB Projection: Slant range- Number of looks: 1.

Data - EO Sign In Authentication (Open)

ERS-1/2 SAR IM Precision L1 [SAR_IMP_1P]

The SAR Precision product is a multi-look (speckle-reduced), ground range image acquired in Image Mode. This product type is most applicable to users interested in remote sensing applications, but is also suitable for calibration purposes. The products are calibrated and corrected for the SAR antenna pattern and range-spreading loss. Radar backscatter can be derived from the products for geophysical modelling, but no correction is applied for terrain-induced radiometric effects. The images are not geocoded, and terrain distortion (foreshortening and layover) has not been removed. The numbering sequence relates to the satellite position and therefore differs between Ascending and Descending scenes. Product characteristics: Pixel size: 12.5 m (range - across track) x 12.5 m (azimuth - along track) Scene area: 100 km (range) x at least 102.5 km (azimuth) Scene size: 8000 pixels range x at least 8200 lines (azimuth) Pixel depth: 16 bits unsigned integer Total product volume: 125 MB Projection: Ground-range Number of looks: 3.

Mission - Heritage Missions

ERS

The ERS programme was composed of two missions, ERS-1 and ERS-2, which together observed the Earth for 20 years, from 1991 to 2011.

Activity - Quality

SCIRoCCo

The SCIRoCCo project is an interdisciplinary cooperation of scatterometry experts aimed at promoting the continuing exploitation of ESA's unique 20 years' worth of ERS Scatterometer data.

Activity - Quality

REAPER

The REAPER (REprocessing of Altimeter Products for ERS) project covers both the ERS-1 and the ERS-2 altimetry missions. The project aims to support and maintain data quality.

Document - General Reference

ERS-2- A continuation of the ERS-1 Success - ERS-2 and its Payload

The first 9 articles about ERS contained in ESA Bulletin Nr. 83 have been collected in this extract volume. It is a useful and concise document giving information on ERS-2, its payload, instruments, products, user services.

Document - Publication - Paper

The ERS Wind Scatterometer performances

Document - Technical Note

ERS Wind Scatterometer mission routine performances

Document - General Reference

Dragon Programme - Brochure 2006

The Dragon Programme focuses on science and applications development in P.R. China exploiting mainly data from ESA ERS and Envisat missions. This brochure describes the programme, projects and partners.