News - General News

ESA's improved Earth system data records: what is in store for the future?

Fundamental Data Records (FDRs) are instrumental in advancing our understanding of Earth systems and for addressing societal challenges effectively. These long-term records contain uncertainty-quantified, calibrated and geo-located multi-instrument/multi-platform satellite sensor data spanning several decades to support climate-related applications.

News - Data Release news

FDR4ALT - ESA unveils new cutting-edge ERS/Envisat Altimeter and Microwave Radiometer Datasets

The European Space Agency (ESA) has developed a comprehensive suite of innovative Earth system data records as part of the Fundamental Data Records for Altimetry project - FDR4ALT.

Data - EO Sign In Authentication (Open)

Land Ice Thematic Data Product [ALT_TDP_LI]

This is the Land Ice Thematic Data Product (TDP) V1 resulting from the ESA FDR4ALT project and containing estimates of ice sheet surface elevation and associated uncertainties. The collection covers data for three different missions: ERS-1, ERS-2 and Envisat, and based on Level 1 data coming from previous reprocessing (ERS REAPER and the Envisat V3.0) but taking into account the improvements made at Level 0/Level 1 in the frame of FDR4ALT (ALT FDR). The Land Ice TDP focuses specifically on the ice sheets of Greenland and Antarctica, providing these data in different files. For many aspects, the Land Ice Level 2 and Level 2+ processing is very innovative: Improved relocation approach correcting for topographic effects within the beam footprint to identify the Point of Closest Approach Homogeneous timeseries of surface elevation measurements at regular along-track reference nodes. The FDR4ALT products are available in NetCDF format. Free standard tools for reading NetCDF data can be used. Information for expert altimetry users is also available in a dedicated NetCDF group within the products. Please consult the FDR4ALT Product User Guide before using the data. The FDR4ALT datasets represent the new reference data for the ERS/Envisat altimetry missions, superseding any previous mission data. Users are strongly encouraged to make use of these datasets for optimal results.

Data - EO Sign In Authentication (Open)

Inland Waters Thematic Data Product [ALT_TDP_IW]

This is the Inland Waters Thematic Data Product (TDP) V1 resulting from the ESA FDR4ALT project and containing improved Water Surface Height (WSH) data record from the ERS-1, ERS-2 and Envisat missions estimated using the ICE1 retracking range for its better performance on the hydro targets. The FDR4ALT products are available in NetCDF format. Free standard tools for reading NetCDF data can be used. Information for expert altimetry users is also available in a dedicated NetCDF group within the products. Please consult the FDR4ALT Product User Guide before using the data. The FDR4ALT datasets represent the new reference data for the ERS/Envisat altimetry missions, superseding any previous mission data. Users are strongly encouraged to make use of these datasets for optimal results.

News - Success Stories

Decades of satellite data reveal the risks of climate tipping points

Decades-long time series that draw on ESA’s Earth observation archives are enabling scientists to uncover the threat of sudden and potentially irreversible changes to the icy parts of the planet.

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.

News - Spotlight on EO community

Introducing Mirko Albani

In this short introduction, ESA's Heritage Missions Programme Manager describes what he likes most about ESA's long term archive of satellite mission data and his role in the programme.

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.

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 - Project Proposal (Restrained)

IRS-1C/1D Full archive

The following products are available: PAN: Panchromatic, resolution 5 m, Coverage 70 km x 70 km, radiometrically and ortho (DN) corrected, LISS-III: Multi-spectral, resolution 25 m, Coverage 140 km x 140 km, radiometrically and ortho (DN) corrected (ortho delivered without Band 5) WiFS: Multi-spectral, resolution 180 m, Coverage 800 km x 800 km, radiometrically and ortho (DN) corrected. Sensor Type Resolution (m) Coverage (km x km) System or radiometrically corrected Ortho corrected (DN) Global archive PAN Panchromatic 5 70 x 70 X X 1996 – 2007 (IRS-1C) 1998 – 2009 (IRS-1D) LISS-III Multi-spectral 25 140 x 140 X X (without band 5) WiFS Multi-spectral 180 800 km x 800 km X X Note: Whether system corrected or radiometrically corrected products are available depends on sensor and processing centre For PAN and LISS-III ortho corrected: If unavailable, user has to supply ground control information and DEM in suitable quality For WiFS ortho corrected: service based on in house available ground control information and DEM.

Data - EO Sign In Authentication (Open)

IRS-1C/1D European coverage

IRS-1C/1D dataset is composed of products generated by the Indian Remote Sensing (IRS) Satellites 1C/1D PAN sensor. The products, acquired from 1996 to 2004 over Europe, are radiometrically and ortho corrected level 1 black and white images at 5 metre resolution and cover an area of up to 70 x 70 km. Sensor Type Resolution (m) Coverage (km x km) System or radiometrically corrected Ortho corrected (DN) Acquisition in Neustrelitz PAN Panchromatic 5 70 x 70 X X 1996 - 2004 IRS-1C/1D PAN data coverage of Europe acquired between 1996 to 1998. Copyright: 2015 GAF AG IRS-1C/1D PAN data coverage of Europe acquired between 1999 to 2001. Copyright: 2015 GAF AG IRS-1C/1D PAN data coverage of Europe acquired between 2002 to 2004. Copyright: 2015 GAF AG Spatial coverage: Check the spatial coverage of the collection on a map available on the Third Party Missions Dissemination Service.

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.

Document - General Reference

DRAGON 2 Programme - Brochure 2009

The Dragon Programme is a cooperation between ESA and the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) of the P.R. China. This brochure presents the activities undertaken since the formal start of the programme in April 2009, its background, objectives, partners and project themes.

Document - Proceedings

2004 Envisat and ERS Symposium

The 2004 Envisat and ERS Symposium was held in Salzburg - Austria from 6 to 10 September 2004. The 2004 Envisat and ERS Symposium provided a forum for investigators to present results of ongoing research project activities and assess the development of applications and services.

Document - Proceedings

ERS-Envisat Symposium

Document - Proceedings

Dragon Programme Mid-Term Results

Proceedings of the 2005 Dragon Symposium held on 27 June - 1 July 2005 in Santorini, Greece.

Mission - Third Party Missions

IRS-P5 (Cartosat-1)

IRS-P5 (Cartosat-1) was a stereoscopic Earth observation satellite that generated Digital Elevation Models (DEMs) and other value-added products.

Event - Training

Advanced Training Course in Land Remote Sensing 2012

The 2012 advanced training course focused on land remote sensing theory and applications.