The Copernicus Sentinel-2 objective takes us over the Tarawa Atoll in the Republic of Kiribati– a remote Pacific nation threatened by rising seas. The Republic of Kiribati is an independent island country including some 33 atolls near the equator in the main Pacific. The islands are topped approximately 3.5 million sq km of ocean, however with a total acreage of only 800 sq km. Tarawa Atoll, pictured here, lies approximately midway in between Hawaii and Australia. Tarawa consists of a big lagoon fringed by a V-shaped reef, around 35 km long, and is comprised of more than 30 islets. Tarawa, the website of a ruthless World War II fight, is divided into North and South Tarawa. Credit: Contains modified Copernicus Sentinel information (2020 ), processed by ESA, CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO
Determining tiny differences in the height of the sea surface area from area is no simple job– however thats precisely what the Copernicus Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich satellite is doing. And, after a year of exhaustive screening, this new objective is now delivering the worlds most accurate information on sea-level increase.
Released on November 21, 2020, Copernicus Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich utilizes the most current radar altimetry technology, established by ESA, to advance the long-term record of sea-surface height measurements that started in 1992 by the French– United States Topex-Poseidon satellite and that were followed by the Jason series of satellite objectives.
The Copernicus Sentinel-6 mission comprises 2 similar satellites launched five years apart. Copernicus Sentinel-6 is taking on the function of radar altimetry recommendation objective, continuing the long-term record of measurements of sea-surface height started in 1992 by the French– United States Topex Poseidon and then the Jason satellites. Importantly, Sentinel-6 brings, for the very first time, synthetic aperture radar into the altimetry referral mission time series.
With the importance of keeping an eye on sea-level increase so high on the international agenda, numerous organizations have been included in making Copernicus Sentinel-6 the gold standard reference mission to take the record of sea-surface height measurements into the future, and to do this with greater accuracy than ever in the past.
ESAs Copernicus Sentinel-6 project manager, Pierrik Vuilleumier, kept in mind, “The cooperation with NASA, EUMETSAT, NOAA and CNES has, today, pertained to fruition with the prompt release of objective items to functional users, offering both continuity with previous referral missions and brand-new high-resolution synthetic aperture radar items. The Poseidon-4 altimeters digital innovation brings unmatched level of performance.”
” While Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich is going beyond expectations in orbit, we are busy with its follow on, Sentinel-6B. The satellite is now at IABGs centers in Ottobrunn, Germany, going through an ecological test project that will go through till next March. In the middle of the year it will be taken into storage up until we prepare it for launch at the end of 2025.”
To make sure that distinctions in between the historic low-resolution time series and the new data from Copernicus Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich are totally understood, a 12-month tandem flight has actually been occurring. This involves Sentinel-6 flying 30 seconds behind its predecessor satellite, Jason-3, following the very same ground track.
Following months of cautious testing, the stream of Copernicus Sentinel-6 high-resolution information are now available.
Eumetsats ocean altimetry program supervisor, Julia Figa Saldana, said, “Experts from around the world have closely taken a look at and confirmed the information, validating that the Copernicus Sentinel-6 objective is robust, exact, and extremely reliable. By cross-calibrating Sentinel-6 versus its predecessor Jason-3 to within 1 mm, we make sure that the 30-year record of mean sea level, as captured by satellite radar altimeters, continues continuous.
” The information released today is crucial for keeping track of the impact of climate change on Earths oceans.”
This animation reveals the radar pulse from the Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich satellites altimeter bouncing off the sea surface area in order to determine the height of the ocean. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech
ESAs Sentinel-6 objective scientist, Craig Donlon, added, “Measurements of sea-level rise provide an integrated but unique view of climate change considering that a warming ocean expands and increased melting of ice on land both result in a boost in sea level.
” Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich firmly brings a brand-new artificial aperture radar measurement strategy into the referral altimeter time series for the very first time. This enables Sentinel-6 to supply enhanced sea state and wind speed measurements, enhanced abilities for river and lake hydrology applications while keeping the stability of sea-level rise quotes. These measurements supply evidence that is vital to establish and carry out robust societal policy for our future.”
Determining small distinctions in the height of the sea surface area from space is no easy job– however thats exactly what the Copernicus Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich satellite is doing. The Copernicus Sentinel-6 objective makes up 2 similar satellites launched 5 years apart. Copernicus Sentinel-6 is taking on the role of radar altimetry reference mission, continuing the long-term record of measurements of sea-surface height started in 1992 by the French– US Topex Poseidon and then the Jason satellites. Importantly, Sentinel-6 brings, for the first time, synthetic aperture radar into the altimetry reference objective time series.” Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich safely brings a new artificial aperture radar measurement method into the recommendation altimeter time series for the first time.
While Sentinel-6 is one of the European Unions family of Copernicus missions, its execution is the result of an exceptional cooperation in between the European Commission ESA, Eumetsat, NASA, and NOAA, with support from the CNES French area firm.
Eumetsat– the European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites, is accountable for operating the satellite and for making the data readily available to users.
The first data items, which were low-resolution items, were launched in June. This was a crucial step in the shift to the higher-resolution items being released today. The information have actually been utilized for weather condition forecasting and seasonal forecasting models, and to anticipate the advancement and track of hurricanes.
Sentinel-6s Poseidon-4 altimeter was developed to bring new high-resolution Ku-band artificial aperture radar measurements into the altimetry reference time series. It, for that reason, delivers synchronised low-resolution measurements and high-resolution measurements. The low-resolution measurements are matched with measurements from the missions predecessor, Jason-3, and, for that reason, crucial to making sure continuity, and the boosted high-resolution information can then be provided with outright confidence.