All articles tagged with #copernicus
Europe experienced one of its hottest years in 2025, with near-universal above-average temperatures, record wildfires, drought, and glacier loss; a strong El Niño is expected to push global temperatures higher into 2027, making 2026 likely the second-warmest year on record.
Copernicus satellite imagery shows green ice around Antarctica, signaling spring phytoplankton blooms as sunlight returns and nutrients are released. Scientists view this as a sign of a healthy marine ecosystem and a way to monitor ocean currents and life from space.
An Italian historian has found a 1551 copy of Ptolemy’s Almagest with notes in likely Galileo’s handwriting, dated around 1590 and confirmed by handwriting experts, suggesting Galileo used Ptolemy’s mathematical framework to develop Copernican ideas rather than reject ancient wisdom outright; the find is to be studied further in the Journal for the History of Astronomy and highlighted by the National Central Library of Florence.
ESA’s daylight-focused Sentinel-2A was activated during night passes and produced unexpectedly clear images of gas flares in Qatar and Iraq, a wildfire in India, and fishing boats off South Korea, demonstrating potential for nighttime Earth observation and informing future mission requirements as the Copernicus program progresses with additional Sentinel-2 satellites.
ESA tested Sentinel-2A’s ability to image at night, obtaining useful nighttime observations of gas flares, wildfires, city lights and fishing boats, to inform the design of the future Sentinel-2 Next Generation mission while Sentinel-2B and -2C continue core operations.
2025 is among the hottest years on record, averaging about 1.44C above preindustrial levels, driven by long-term fossil-fuel emissions; a waning El Niño exposed underlying warming, and Copernicus warns the Paris 1.5C limit could be breached before the decade ends, as polar heat intensifies and sea ice declines.
Copernicus data show global temperatures about 1.4C above pre-industrial levels, with 2025 the third-warmest year on record at about 1.47C; 2024 remains the hottest year at around 1.6C, and the three-year stretch has briefly exceeded 1.5C, indicating the world is on pace to breach the Paris Agreement’s 1.5C target this decade due to greenhouse gas emissions and intensified heat in Europe and polar regions.
Sentinel-1D, Europe's latest Earth observation satellite, achieved a record-breaking 50-hour turnaround from launch to first images, capturing high-resolution radar data of Antarctica, Europe, and maritime activity, demonstrating rapid response capabilities and advancing climate and environmental monitoring.
Sentinel-1D, the last of the first-generation Sentinel-1 satellites, was successfully launched into orbit aboard an Ariane 6 rocket from French Guiana, completing the Copernicus Earth observation mission that provides critical radar data for environmental monitoring and disaster response.
Europe's Vega-C rocket successfully launched from French Guiana, marking its return after a two-year hiatus due to a previous failure. The rocket carried the Sentinel-1C satellite for the EU's Copernicus Earth observation program, which aims to enhance radar imagery for environmental monitoring. The Vega-C, an upgrade from the original Vega, offers increased payload capacity and cost efficiency. This launch is crucial for Europe's space access, especially after the cessation of using Russian Soyuz vehicles and delays in the Ariane 6 program.
Arianespace is set to launch the Vega-C rocket on December 5, 2024, marking its return to flight after a failed mission in 2022. The launch will deploy the Sentinel-1C satellite, part of the Copernicus Earth science program, from Kourou, French Guiana. This mission is crucial for Arianespace as it transitions from older rockets to new models like the Ariane 6 and Vega-C, amid geopolitical and technical challenges. Sentinel-1C will enhance radar imaging capabilities and introduce new features like AIS receivers for ship tracking.
Europe's Vega-C rocket is set to return to flight for the first time since a 2022 mission failure, launching the Copernicus Sentinel-1C satellite from Kourou, French Guiana. This mission aims to replace the inoperable Sentinel-1B and complete a dual-satellite constellation with Sentinel-1A for comprehensive Earth observation. The launch marks a significant step for ESA and Avio, Vega-C's primary designer, as they continue to innovate with plans for an upgraded Vega-E rocket.
The Vega-C rocket's return to flight has been delayed by a day for additional precautionary checks, as announced by Arianespace. The mission, VV25, will launch the Sentinel-1C satellite into a Sun-synchronous orbit, marking the first Vega-C flight since a failed launch in December 2022. The delay is part of efforts to ensure maximum flight worthiness, following extensive tests on the rocket's upper stage. The Sentinel-1C is part of the Copernicus program, providing crucial Earth observation data.
March 2024 marked the 10th consecutive month of record-breaking global heat, with temperatures reaching 14.14 degrees Celsius, fueled by marine heat waves and human-caused climate change. Scientists attribute the trend to carbon dioxide and methane emissions from fossil fuel burning and deforestation. With the Paris Agreement aiming to limit warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, urgent global action is needed to achieve net zero emissions and mitigate the impact of rising temperatures.
March 2024 marked the 10th consecutive month of record-breaking global heat, with both air temperatures and ocean temperatures hitting all-time highs, attributed to human-caused climate change from carbon dioxide and methane emissions. Scientists emphasize the need to stop burning fossil fuels and take more sustainable actions to curb rising greenhouse gas concentrations. The trajectory of increasing temperatures is not expected to change until these measures are taken, with the globe experiencing 12 months of average monthly temperatures surpassing the Paris Agreement threshold.