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Earth Online Newsletter - 08 November 2024
This issue of the Earth Online Newsletter covers a selection of the latest news and events from ESA
Heritage data reveal potential interactions between Campi Flegrei and Vesuvius volcanoes
The densely inhabited area of Naples, Italy, between Campi Flegrei caldera and the Vesuvius volcano, is one of the most hazardous regions in the world—Heritage data from ESA’s ERS and Envisat missions are proving to be vital in studying possible interactions between the two volcanic landforms.
Agriculture and Space: What Capabilities Can Satellites Bring?
Satellites enable the digital capture of vast and diverse agricultural data, which are essential for modern farming. By providing a comprehensive view of Earth's surface, satellites contribute invaluable information on crop health, soil moisture, and vegetation.
HEDAVI Tutorial: how to search for images in HEDAVI’s Explorer mode
The Explorer mode of the HEritage DAta VIsualisation tool (HEDAVI) allows users to process on-the-fly, visualise, share and export Earth observation data from ESA’s Heritage and Third Party Missions.
FDR4ATMOS - New ESA FDR for Atmospheric composition dataset from ERS-2 GOME and Envisat SCIAMACHY
In addition to releasing new datasets for Envisat SCIAMACHY, the European Space Agency (ESA) has advanced the earth observation capabilities by developing an experimental product under the ESA FDR4ATMOS project (Fundamental Data Records in the domain of satellite Atmospheric Composition).
Fundamental Data Record for Atmospheric Composition [ATMOS__L1B]
The Fundamental Data Record (FDR) for Atmospheric Composition UVN v.1.0 dataset is a cross-instrument Level-1 product [ATMOS__L1B] generated in 2023 and resulting from the ESA FDR4ATMOS project. The FDR contains selected Earth Observation Level 1b parameters (irradiance/reflectance) from the nadir-looking measurements of the ERS-2 GOME and Envisat SCIAMACHY missions for the period ranging from 1995 to 2012. The data record offers harmonised cross-calibrated spectra with focus on spectral windows in the Ultraviolet-Visible-Near Infrared regions for the retrieval of critical atmospheric constituents like ozone (O3), sulphur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen dioxide (NO2) column densities, alongside cloud parameters. The FDR4ATMOS products should be regarded as experimental due to the innovative approach and the current use of a limited-sized test dataset to investigate the impact of harmonization on the Level 2 target species, specifically SO2, O3 and NO2. Presently, this analysis is being carried out within follow-on activities. The FDR4ATMOS V1 is currently being extended to include the MetOp GOME-2 series. Product format For many aspects, the FDR product has improved compared to the existing individual mission datasets: GOME solar irradiances are harmonised using a validated SCIAMACHY solar reference spectrum, solving the problem of the fast-changing etalon present in the original GOME Level 1b data; Reflectances for both GOME and SCIAMACHY are provided in the FDR product. GOME reflectances are harmonised to degradation-corrected SCIAMACHY values, using collocated data from the CEOS PIC sites; SCIAMACHY data are scaled to the lowest integration time within the spectral band using high-frequency PMD measurements from the same wavelength range. This simplifies the use of the SCIAMACHY spectra which were split in a complex cluster structure (with own integration time) in the original Level 1b data; The harmonization process applied mitigates the viewing angle dependency observed in the UV spectral region for GOME data; Uncertainties are provided. Each FDR product provides, within the same file, irradiance/reflectance data for UV-VIS-NIR special regions across all orbits on a single day, including therein information from the individual ERS-2 GOME and Envisat SCIAMACHY measurements. FDR has been generated in two formats: Level 1A and Level 1B targeting expert users and nominal applications respectively. The Level 1A [ATMOS__L1A] data include additional parameters such as harmonisation factors, PMD, and polarisation data extracted from the original mission Level 1 products. The ATMOS__L1A dataset is not part of the nominal dissemination to users. In case of specific requirements, please contact EOHelp. Please refer to the README file for essential guidance before using the data. All the new products are conveniently formatted in NetCDF. Free standard tools, such as Panoply, can be used to read NetCDF data. Panoply is sourced and updated by external entities. For further details, please consult our Terms and Conditions page. Uncertainty characterisation One of the main aspects of the project was the characterization of Level 1 uncertainties for both instruments, based on metrological best practices. The following documents are provided: General guidance on a metrological approach to Fundamental Data Records (FDR) Uncertainty Characterisation document Effect tables NetCDF files containing example uncertainty propagation analysis and spectral error correlation matrices for SCIAMACHY (Atlantic and Mauretania scene for 2003 and 2010) and GOME (Atlantic scene for 2003) reflectance_uncertainty_example_FDR4ATMOS_GOME.nc reflectance_uncertainty_example_FDR4ATMOS_SCIA.nc
Showcasing ESA's HEDAVI Earth observation tool
ESA's HEDAVI (HEritage DAta VIsualiation) is a platform that allows users to freely access over 40 years of ESA Earth observation Heritage, Third Party Missions and some Copernicus data.
Showcasing success stories from ESA's CryoSat mission
ESA's ice mission, CryoSat, was launched in 2010 and carried an advanced radar altimeter to measure Earth's cryosphere.
How to find data collection in EO CAT?
A short guide to EO-CAT Earth Observation Catalogue application with examples.
Earth Online Newsletter - 19 July 2024
This issue of the Earth Online Newsletter covers a selection of the latest news and events from ESA.
New stories on change detection and ERS-2 re-entry in HEDAVI
Two new stories are now available in ESA’s HEDAVI (HEritage DAta VIsualisation) tool. HEDAVI visualises Earth observation data from satellites in ESA’s Heritage and Third Party Missions programme, and includes some data from the Copernicus Sentinel satellites.
Easy visualisation of Earth observation data with new HEDAVI tool modes
The Discover mode in HEDAVI showcases the usefulness of Earth Observation (EO) data in a variety of applications through a list of case-studies—so-called “stories”. The first new feature allows users to share links to the stories in HEDAVI. The second new feature allows them to export any image of a case-study from the Discover mode to the Explorer mode.
Interview with Mirko Albani
ESA’s Heritage Space Programme Manager discusses the programme's objectives and challenges.
Introducing Heritage Missions Programme Manager
Mirko Albani, Heritage Missions Programme Manager talks about his role and ESA's satellite mission data archive.
Heritage data provide insight into Alpine landslides
Using radar data from ESA’s Envisat, ERS and Copernicus Sentinel-1 satellites, scientists have shown how satellite radar interferometry can shed light on landslide processes in the Swiss Alps.
Hurricane Danielle, August 1998
View satellite images of Hurricane Danielle from August 1998.
The Bay of Tokyo (Japan), 2002
Explore an ERS-2 radar image of the Bay of Tokyo from 2002.
Oil Spill in Oporto (Portugal), October 1994
See the oil spill near Oporto's coast captured in an ERS satellite image.
Flood in Hungary, April 2000
View the flooding that struck Hungary in April 2000.
Flood in Emilia Romagna (Italy), October 1996
View the flooding in Emilia Romagna, Italy, in October 1996.