ESA Earth from Space: Specials- Copernicus footage and results

[Rik ISS-fan]

The EU Copernicus program deserves a topic.
Let's start with Sentinel 5P first results.
ESA: Sentinel-5P First Light (repost from Rockot Sentinel 5P page)

[gosnold]

CNES gave a small presentation with a Q&A about Copernicus last week, here is a recap:
https://satelliteobservation.net/2018/04/15/everything-you-wanted-to-know-about-copernicus/

[bolun]

Carbon monoxide from Amazon fires

Using data from Copernicus Sentinel-5P, the image shows the difference in carbon monoxide in the air between July 2019 and August 2019 over the Amazon. This pollutant is often associated with traffic, but here we see the increase in atmospheric concentrations following the fires. Naturally, once in the air, it can cause problems for humans by reducing the amount of oxygen that can be transported in the bloodstream.

Related article: Monitoring air pollution from fires

http://www.esa.int/spaceinimages/Images/2019/09/Carbon_monoxide_from_Amazon_fires

Image credit: contains modified Copernicus data (2019), processed by SRON

[bolun]

Nitrogen dioxide concentrations over India

These images, using data from the Copernicus Sentinel-5P satellite, show the average nitrogen dioxide concentrations from 1 January to 24 March 2020 and 25 March (the first day of the lockdown) to 20 April 2020 – compared to the same time-frame as last year. The significant reduction in the concentrations can be seen over major cities across India. Mumbai and Delhi saw drops of around 40-50% compared to the same time last year.

A trail of nitrogen dioxide emissions from maritime traffic can be seen as a faint line over the Indian Ocean (visible in the bottom of the image.) Shipping lanes appear as straight lines owing to commercial ships following more or less the same route.

The concentrations of nitrogen dioxide in our atmosphere vary widely on a daily basis. Variations owing to weather conditions make it necessary to average data over substantial periods of time – allowing for more accurate assessments to be made.

Related article: Air pollution drops in India following lockdown

https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Images/2020/04/Nitrogen_dioxide_concentrations_over_India

[bolun]

Nitrogen dioxide concentrations over Europe

These images, using data from the Copernicus Sentinel-5P satellite, show the average nitrogen dioxide concentrations from March to April (upper panels) and July to August (lower panels) in 2019 and 2020, and their difference maps. After a strong column decrease observed during the lockdown in March-April 2020, the majority of Europe returned to similar 2019 levels of nitrogen dioxide concentrations, except for large cities, where the nitrogen dioxide levels remain lower than in 2019.

Related article: Air pollution in a post-COVID-19 world

https://www.esa.int/Applications/Observing_the_Earth/Copernicus/Sentinel-5P/Air_pollution_in_a_post-COVID-19_world

Image credit: Copernicus Sentinel data (2019-20), processed by KNMI/BIRA-IASB

[bolun]

Methane emissions detected from Madrid landfill on 20 August 2021

During August 2021, high-resolution satellites detected substantial quantities of methane emitted from adjacent landfill sites close to the centre of Madrid, Spain. Using data from the Copernicus Sentinel-5P mission combined with GHGSat’s high-resolution commercial imagery, scientists from the SRON Netherlands Institute for Space Research and GHGSat discovered the landfill sites combined emitted 8800 kg of methane per hour – the highest observed in Europe by GHGSat.

The image shows the methane emissions from one of the landfill sites in Madrid on 20 August 2021.

Related article: Satellites detect large methane emissions from Madrid landfills

https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Images/2021/11/Methane_emissions_detected_from_Madrid_landfill_on_20_August_2021

Image credit: GHGSat

[bolun]

Sentinel-5P detected methane plumes

20/09/2023

Global overview showing the location and magnitude of all 2974 methane super-emitter plumes detected in 2021 using the Copernicus Sentinel-5P Tropomi instrument.

The Tropomi instrument onboard the Copernicus Sentinel-5P satellite is the only satellite instrument that produces a global map of methane concentrations every day. Today, researchers from SRON Netherlands Institute for Space Research have announced a new algorithm that automatically discovers methane super-emitter plumes in Sentinel-5P data using machine learning.

Related article: Trio of Sentinel satellites map methane super-emitters

https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Images/2023/09/Sentinel-5P_detected_methane_plumes

Image credit: ESA/SRON