Why is it useful
Earth Observation (EO) data are having a huge impact in unravelling complex issues in earth systems science and in improving the way we manage our environment.
(JPG, 134 Kb)
Image of the Gulf of Mexico oil spill taken by Envisat
Credit: ESA
Applications of EO increase on an almost daily basis; historically EO satellites were largely meteorological. Nowadays, whilst meteorology is still an important application, EO can show the spread of air pollution across a whole continent, identify the precise damage caused by an earthquake , track deforestation or monitor the changes occurring at polar ice caps. In the longer term, these global, consistent, reliable datasets will play a critical role in our understanding and predictions of climate change.
If you are involved in a novel application of EO or have an interest in exploring the ways that EO data could improve your work, we would like to hear about it, so please get in touch.