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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 - Announcement of Opportunity updates
Announcement of Opportunity for SAOCOM – deadline extended
The submission deadline for the ESA/CONAE Announcement of Opportunity for SAOCOM mission data has been extended until 31 December 2024.
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)
Sea Ice Thematic Data Product [ALT_TDP_SI]
This is the Sea Ice Thematic Data Product (TDP) V1 resulting from the ESA FDR4ALT project and containing the sea ice related geophysical parameters, along with associated uncertainties: snow depth, radar and sea-ice freeboard, sea ice thickness and concentration. The collection covers data for the ERS-1, ERS-2 and Envisat missions, and bases 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 Sea Ice TDP provides data from the northern or southern hemisphere in two files corresponding to the Arctic and Antarctic regions respectively for the winter periods only, i.e., October to June for the Arctic, and May to November for the Antarctic. For many aspects, the Sea Ice TDP is very innovative: First time series of sea-ice thickness estimates for ERS Homogeneous calibration, allowing the first Arctic radar freeboard time series from ERS-1 (1991) to CryoSat-2 (2021) Uncertainties estimated along-track with a bottom-up approach based on dominant sources ERS pulse blurring error corrected using literature procedure [Peacock, 2004] 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)
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 - Infographics
Showcasing the NovaSAR-1 radar satellite
Learn about the NovaSAR-1 mission in our new infographic.
News - Announcement of Opportunity updates
ESA encourages S-band applications with NovaSAR-1 Announcement of Opportunity
ESA is offering possibilities to develop new applications in the S-band microwave frequency range, with a new Announcement of Opportunity for NovaSAR-1 data, via ESA’s Third Party Mission programme.
Mission - Third Party Missions
NovaSAR-1
Launched on 16 September 2018, NovaSAR-1 features an S-band synthetic aperture radar (SAR) instrument offering a variety of modes with different resolutions and swath widths.
Data - Announcement of Opportunity (Restrained)
Announcement of Opportunity for NovaSAR-1
ESA is launching an Announcement of Opportunity for the international scientific community to access data from the NovaSAR-1 mission for science and EO-based applications development.
Data - Project Proposal (Restrained)
NovaSAR-1 new tasking
NovaSAR-1 new acquisition data are available in two baseline acquisition modes: Stripmap – provides the highest resolution of 6 metres with up to 20 km swath selected from a 150 km field of regard, available in single polarisation. ScanSAR – has a 20 - 30 metre resolution and up to 150 km swath. Available in single polarisation. Within each of the baseline modes there are a variety of mode options that vary according to ground range resolution, incidence angles, swath width and the number of looks: Acquisition Mode Polarisation Resolution (m) Swath Width (km) Incidence Angles Number of Looks Stripmap Single: HH 6 20 16.0 – 25.38° 3 (1 range, 3 azimuth) 13 – 20 21.29 – 31.2° Single: VV 6 20 16.0 – 25.38° 3 (1 range, 3 azimuth) 13 – 20 21.29 – 31.2° ScanSAR Single: HH 20 100 15.0 - 24.66° 4 (2 range, 2 azimuth) 50 24.51 - 28.94° Single: VV 20 100 15.0 – 24.66° 4 (2 range, 2 azimuth) 50 24.51 - 28.94° Single: HH 30 150 11.29 – 25.93° 4 (2 range, 2 azimuth) 55 27.35 - 32.01° Single: VV 30 150 11.29 – 25.93° 4 (2 range, 2 azimuth) 55 27.35 - 32.01° NovaSAR-1 data are provided as a Level 2 (ARD) product as standard, but the accompanying Level 1 data may also be requested. Level 1 – delivered as reconstructed, unprocessed instrument data at full resolution. Level 2 (ARD) – delivered as a processed product with applied radiometric and geometric corrections i.e. orthorectification and spatial registration: Geocoded Ellipsoid Corrected (GEC) – Maritime and ocean applications Geocoded Terrain Corrected (GTC) – Land applications and change detection Where available, associated automatic identification system (AIS) data may be requested alongside the NovaSAR-1 data products.
News - Spotlight on EO community
Introducing the Biomass and SMOS Mission Manager
In this video, Klaus Scipal describes his role as Mission Manager of Biomass and SMOS, and what he enjoys about his involvement with these dedicated science missions.
News - Thematic area articles
Global understanding of Earth's land surfaces greatly boosted by satellite data
ESA perform land surface monitoring with a range of instruments onboard satellites acquiring optical and radar data. Collections of data from these missions are freely available for research purposes.
News - Success Stories
Long-term satellite data show wind farms can affect local air currents
Decades of satellite data have allowed for the first long-term study of the impact of offshore wind farms on downstream wind flow in coastal areas.
News - Infographics
The COSMO-SkyMed series - Two generations of SAR satellites
Learn about the COSMO-SkyMed (Constellation of small Satellites for the Mediterranean basin Observation) series in our latest infographic.
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 - Data Release news
New CryoVEx campaign datasets released
Two new datasets have been released for the CryoVEx campaign, covering activities in Spring and Summer 2019.
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 - Thematic area articles
Satellite data central to ocean monitoring
Over 95% of Earth’s water is found in our oceans, and yet sadly, oceans are under stress from climate change and pollution. Monitoring our oceans is vital for Earth’s survival and satellites are the primary means of long-term and independent observation of our vast ocean bodies and their associated coastal zones.
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.
