Sentinel 2A Launch

Copernicus is the EU Earth Observation and Monitoring Programme
What is Copernicus?
be served by a set of dedicated satellites (the Sentinels)
Copernicus is a European Union Programme aimed at and contributing missions (existing commercial and
developing European information services based on public satellites). The Sentinels are specifically designed
satellite Earth Observation and in-situ (non-space) data to meet the needs of the Copernicus services and their
analyses. The Programme is coordinated and managed users. Since the launch of Sentinel-1A in 2014, the
by the European Commission. It is implemented in Union set in motion a process to place a constellation
partnership with the Member States, the European of more than a dozen satellites in orbit over the course
Space Agency (ESA), the European Organisation for the of the next ten years. Sentinel-1A provides a unique
Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT), set of observations, starting with high-resolution, allweather,
day and night radar images to be used for
the European Centre for medium-range Weather
Forecasts (ECMWF), EU Agencies and Mercator Océan. land and ocean services.
Vast amounts of global data from satellites and from Copernicus collects information from In-situ systems
ground-based, airborne and seaborne measurement such as ground stations, which deliver data acquired by
systems are being used to provide information to a multitude of sensors on the ground, at sea or in the
help service providers, public authorities and other air. These data come from European and non-European
international organisations improve the quality of life organisations and from Member States as well.
for the citizens of Europe. The information services Copernicus monitors: It stores the information and
provided will be freely and openly accessible to its keeps track of changes or recurring phenomena: this
users.
constitutes a large amount of reliable and up-to-date
How does Copernicus collect data? information on the status of our planet.
The Copernicus Space and Service Components have Copernicus analyses: The data is analysed in a way
been specifically designed to meet user requirements. that generates indicators useful for researchers and
Through satellite and in-situ observations, the end users, providing information on past, present and
services deliver near-real-time data on a global future trends. They can analyse, for example, the air
level which can also be used for local and regional quality in our cities and detect visible and noticeable
needs, to help us better understand our planet and
sustainably manage the environment we live in.
Copernicus observes from Satellites: Copernicus will
Space
increases in air pollution (smoke, dust, smog) • High resolution images, and lower
or analyse the rise in global sea levels. resolution overviews;
• Regular and systematic review of data;
What are the services? • Reduced reaction time to enable better
The services address six thematic areas: response to man-made or natural disasters;
An Atmosphere Monitoring Service • Global/Pan European Approach to Earth
⇢ fully operational from July 2015; monitoring.
A Marine Environment Monitoring Service The Copernicus data policy promotes the
⇢ fully operational since May 2015; access, use and sharing of Copernicus
A Land Monitoring Service
information and data on a full, free and
⇢ fully operational since January 2013; open basis.
A Climate Change Service
How does Copernicus help
⇢ in ramp-up phase;
the citizens of Europe?
An Emergency Management Service Copernicus is the concrete realisation of
⇢ fully operational since April 2012; the European idea of providing our citizens
A Security Service
with new public services on both a European
⇢ in ramp-up phase.
and global scale. By investing in Earth
monitoring and observation systems and
What happens to the data? networks, which monitor and forecast the
The Copernicus system delivers data and state of the environment on land, sea and
information to Copernicus users, supplied in the atmosphere, we are now better able
on a long term and sustainable basis understand our planet, protect and sustain
through a set of services. The EC funds our environment and feel more safe and
companies and public entities which provide secure.
these services. The information can be used Copernicus in Action (examples)
by end users for a wide range of applications • The Marine Environment Monitoring Service
in a variety of areas. These include urban provided data to the Italian authorities
area management, sustainable development supporting oil spill scenario calculations
and nature protection, regional and local during the parbuckling of Costa Concordia;
planning, agriculture, forestry and fisheries, • During the terrible floods that hit central
health, civil protection, infrastructure, Europe in 2013 the Emergency Management
transport and mobility, as well as tourism. Service provided reference maps and flood
delineation to the affected areas;
What is the added-value • Copernicus also plays an important role
of the Copernicus System? in creating business opportunities for small
• Guarantee of service, providing global and medium-sized enterprises, which create
spatial coverage;
jobs and growth. It is estimated that the
• Near-real time data provided to end users; programme could result in some 48,000
• Enable integration of the data (space and direct and indirect jobs being created over
in-situ) and analyses;
the period 2015-2030.
Web: http://copernicus.eu | Facebook: Copernicus EU | Twitter: @CopernicusEU
Photo credits: Sentinel ©ESA/DLR; Land Istock ©Dariusz Paciorek; Marine ©IStockphoto.com/Mercator-Ocean; Atmosphere ©FDC; Emergency: Fire Istock ©negaprion; Eartquake Fotolia ©puckillustrations; Flood ©On-Air; Security ©French Navy; Climate change Fotolia ©z576; In-situ component ©IRD, 2011.