Earth observation satellites support climate change monitoring

Optical and RADAR satellite and aerial data are a reliable source for

continuous information on a global and local scale

Satellite technologyClimate change

remedies

Causes

Effects

Causes

ObserveMeasure

• Intensive farming practices

• Water consumption

• Uncontrolled deforestation

Satellite technologyClimate change

Observe

Measure

Intensive farming practicesIntensive agriculture alters natural resources balance and stock-rearing increases CO2 emissions

Intensive farming practices

Satellite technology provides support for land management, agronomic planning and control of plantation growth

September 2014

March 2015

July 2015 Composite image of 3 different datesEach radar image corresponds to a color band

Imm concept irrigazione

Massive water consumptionDue to the higher temperatures, irrigation in agriculture is increasing, threatening water balances

Radar satellites help to monitor and control farm planning in order to preserve natural resources

Massive water consumption

Radar data are suitable for measuring soil changes due to soil water quantity for agriculture activity

Intensive activityrelated to crops:

vegetation growth

Set aside fields. Natural vegetation

Uncultivated terrain Harvested fields

Imm concept deforestation

Uncontrolled deforestationExtensive forest cuts and intentional fires and are often used to create new land for pasture and intensive agriculture

The infrared satellite sensors allow the measurement of burned and deforested areas

Uncontrolled deforestation

Red color range highlights

the index of vegetation

Uncontrolled deforestation

BURNED AREA Satellites certify

1550treeskilled

150ha burned

area

• Desertification

• Drought

• Melting Ice

• Sea level rising

• Natural disasters

Satellite technologyClimate change

Observe

Measure

DesertificationClimate change is accelerating the expansion rate of the deserts and also the reduction of ecosystem services. But desertification itself also impacts on climate change

Desertification

Satellites report the development of artificial oasis islands, supporting land preservation against the advance of the desert

Drought

Climate change is altering weather and water patterns around the world, causing shortages and droughts

Satellite technology recordslake variation measurements

Drought

August 1972

Massive lakes droughtlong term monitoring

Sea Aral between Kazakhstan north Uzbekistan,

Modis © NASA

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August 1972March 2016 Sentinel image

Melting iceThe effects of global warming are being felt most notably in the coldest regions on Earth. Since 1979 Artic sea ice has declinedboth in extent and thickness

Leveraging on their polar orbit,COSMO-SkyMed Radar satellitesare able to acquire images of both north and south Poles. The high revisit time of the constellation allows the acquisition of a huge series of images of icebergs behavior and trend analysis glacier

Satellites can detect and follow glacier movements and evolution, as well as ice surface reduction

Melting ice

Melting ice

High revisit time of the Italian radar constellation enables continuous monitoring of iceberg movements

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Sea level risingOceans and seas have enormous importance in regulating global climate

No Radar penetration

5mt

20 mt

10 mt

SignalPenetrationUp to 20 mt

COSMO-SkyMedLandsat 7

RADAR providesBettermeasurement of land/water limit !

Optical Signal RADAR Signal

Optical Signal

RADAR Signal

Visibility: day/nightthrough clouds

Up to 4 images per daythanks to the 4 satellites constellation

High revisit time

Natural disasters

Climate change leads to increased frequency of extreme weather events such as high rainfall causing disasters

Radar technology clearly allows water detection, even through clouds, during the night.COSMO-SkyMed constellation acquires up to 4 images/day for rapid damage assessment maps

Natural disasters

Satellite technology

remedies

Causes

Effects

Causes

ObserveMeasure

Climate change

Fucino Plain, Italy