Environmental satellite
An environmental satellite is an earth observation satellite that is primarily used to observe and map the state of the earth . In particular, they are used to research the earth's atmosphere (composition, trace gas concentrations (e.g. ozone hole ), isotope frequencies, temperature determination, pressure measurement, etc.), the earth's surface ( vegetation , soil quality , disaster monitoring , etc.), the sea surface ( sea surface temperature , salinity , algae growth , pollution etc.) and the polar ice caps (changes in polar ice - glacial ice and sea ice - etc.).
The orbits for the satellites are either stable, geostationary or eccentric orbits. These satellites are usually in orbits at an altitude of 400 to 800 km above the earth's surface. In contrast to geostationary satellites such as Meteosat , which are much 'higher' and firmly anchored, they orbit the earth , giving them a large 'field of view'.
The aim of the observations is to obtain an exact picture of the atmosphere, the oceans, the heat and radiation balance of the earth , the vegetation cover, the soil (e.g. soil erosion ) in order to use these data to make predictions for the future development of the earth and to record the historical development ( monitoring ).
The remote sensing observations are made by active and passive sensors that take pictures in different wavelength ranges (including visible light, near infrared, medium infrared, thermal infrared, microwaves). There are also sensors that record the terrestrial magnetic field. Environmental satellites often carry a variety of measuring instruments. Environmental satellite missions are among others
- the European environmental satellite Envisat (2002–2012) (it carried ten remote sensing instruments for environmental observation );
- Aura and
- ERS .
See also
literature
- Vincent L. Webber: Environmental satellites - weather and environmental information systems. Nova Science Publ., New York 2009, ISBN 978-1-60692-984-1 .