Copernicus Programme

The Earth observation program Copernicus of the European Union, before (, German GMES: Global Monitoring for Environment and Security) Global Monitoring for Environment and Security called, is and initiative founded the European Space Agency ( ESA) a in 1998 jointly by the European Commission ( EU). It aims to create on the basis of modern Earth observation and information technologies, sustainable and independent European monitoring system.

The aim of Copernicus / GMES is to unify the use of data from multiple sources to provide high quality information, services and knowledge on time available and to separate and independent access to information concerning the environment and security to offer. In summary GMES collects data that are obtained by sensing satellites, space and ground stations to create a comprehensive picture of the state of the earth.

Our end users are mainly policy makers. Copernicus / GMES will provide them to policy-making on environmental issues (including climate change) contribute to both national and European level and monitor the implementation of the relevant laws. In addition, private companies and citizens will benefit Copernicus Information Services.

The Copernicus system is based on three components: provision of services for public and private decision-makers, space-based observation systems and non- space-based observation systems.

Copernicus services include the following fields: land monitoring, disaster and crisis management, security, marine environment monitoring, Atmosphere monitoring, and climate change adaptation and mitigation.

Meanwhile, these services are pre- operationally available. Based on the running services it is planned from 2011 Europe to be a first operational activities and to begin the full commencement of operation of Copernicus services from 2014.

The prerequisite for operational Copernicus services appropriate management and coordination ( governance ') and a good business model to promote the benefits of these services and advance.

The Copernicus system is the main European contribution to the Global Monitoring system for Earth observation systems, Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS).

The development of Copernicus / GMES

May 19 1998: The European Space Agency ( ESA), the Commission and some national space agencies sign the, Baveno Manifesto ' and thus create the basis for the development of Copernicus / GMES. At that time the initiative was still under the name, Global Monitoring for Environmental Security '.

1999: The initiative was renamed the Global Monitoring for Environment and Security ', in order to illustrate the implications of security as a key element.

2001: The GMES concept was approved by the European Council and the European Space Agency. At the summit meeting in Gothenburg politicians demanded that the European Community contributes to the creation of the necessary for global environment and security monitoring capacity.

February 2004, the Commission published a Communication on " the establishment of a European capacity for GMES - ​​Action Plan (2004-2008) ". Furthermore, the Community and the ESA have signed a framework agreement.

May 2005: Published by the Commission Communication " GMES: From Concept to Reality " presupposes priorities for the implementation of GMES services for the year 2008. The preliminary focus is on the three fast track services, including Country service, marine service and emergency service. Further pilot services are to follow, in particular relating to the atmosphere, security and climate change.

June 2006: The Commission opens a GMES Bureau with the aim of the work on the organizational structure and the long-term financing of GMES advance.

May 2007: After the adoption of the Resolution on the European Space Policy GMES is recognized as the flagship of space strategy.

September 2008: Official launch of the three Fast Track Services and two pilot services in the pre- operational phase during the GMES Forum in Lille ( France).

November 2008: The Commission's Communication entitled " GMES: for a safer planet ", published on November 12, will serve as a basis for further discussion regarding the financing, the operational infrastructure and the management of GMES.

May 2009: The Commission published a proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the European Earth monitoring program (GMES ) and its initial operations (2011-2013 ). This proposal provides a legal basis for the GMES program and the financing of the first operational GMES (2011-2013) is to be created.

December 2012: GMES is renamed Copernicus.

From research to operational services

In recent decades, the EU and the national authorities have invested heavily in research and development in the field of Earth observation. These efforts have already allowed for tremendous success. Nevertheless, built over the period exposed products and services to the restrictions that bring the research itself, eg Lack of continuity of services.

Copernicus is to evolve from research and development for the performance of operational services now. This transition was carried out by a stepwise method:

• 2008-2010: GMES pre-operative services in the 7th Framework Programme
• 2011-2013 [ deprecated]: Startup first operational activities
• From 2014: Complete recording of the operation of Copernicus

Preoperative services are currently provided on the basis of five projects in the 7th Framework Programme of the Community: geoland2 ( land monitoring ), MyOcean ( maritime surveillance ), SAFER ( disaster and crisis management), MACC ( Monitoring the atmosphere) and G- MOSAIC (safety ).

• Geoland2 launched on 1 September 2008. The project covers a wide range of areas such as land use, changes in soil sealing, water quality and availability, land use planning, forest management, carbon sequestration and global food security.
• MyOcean launched on 1 January 2009. It includes topics such as maritime safety, preventive measures against oil pollution, marine resource management, climate change, seasonal forecasts, coastal activities and water pollution.
• SAFER ( January 2009 - 2012) The project focuses on three main areas: civil protection, humanitarian aid and security and crisis management.
• MACC launched on 1 June 2009. The project refines the already developed products that have arisen with the GMES and the PROMOTE project.
• G- MOSAIC ( January 2009 - 2012) Together with the LIMES project ( partly funded by the European Commission in the 6th Framework Programme), the G- MOSAIC project with the issues such as maritime surveillance, monitoring critical infrastructure and support peacekeeping operations concerned.

Satellite missions

Copernicus on the one hand includes space missions that are specifically designed for Copernicus, and on the other hand, access to data from existing missions.

The five space missions that are currently being developed by ESA specifically for Copernicus, as " Sentinels " ( guards ) are referred to. This Sentinel missions include radar and spectral recordings for land observation and monitoring of the oceans and atmosphere.

• Sentinel -1: radar images after the SAR principle in C-band ( ERS and Envisat data continuity ). Sentinel-1 represents the land and marine services as well as all-weather pictures day and night pictures. The launch of the first satellite mission Sentinel-1 took place on April 3, 2014;
• Sentinel -2: high resolution, multi-spectral images in the optical range and near infrared ( Landsat and SPOT data continuity ). Sentinel -2 created high-resolution images in the optical range for land services (eg images of vegetation, soil and water covers, inland waterways and coastal areas). Sentinel-2 will also support the emergency services with information. Astrium is the prime contractor for the Sentinel 2 and responsible for the Multisprektrale instrument. The launch of the first satellite is planned for 2015, a second, identical to supplement the coverage is to follow;
• Sentinel 3: infrared radiometry ( highly accurate temperature measurement), altimetry ( radar altimetry over ) and multi-spectral images with 500 to 1000 m ground resolution. This combination of measurements are important for coastal monitoring, prediction of currents and waves on the seas and for environmental data in the country. Sentinel-3 delivers images and measurements for the marine and land monitoring. The launch of the Sentinel -3 is planned for the year 2015;
• Sentinel -4: designed as a payload on a Meteosat Third Generation, will provide data for monitoring the atmosphere. Planned start is 2017; Template: Future / in 3 years
• Sentinel -5: also provides data for monitoring the atmosphere. Sentinel -5 is used as payload on a EUMETSAT satellite in 2019Vorlage: Started future / in 5 years.

The satellite Sentinel-1 will cost approximately € 220 million, the result of satellites around € 150 million.

Before the aforementioned Sentinel missions to share data with Copernicus, there are numerous existing and planned space missions available that are useful for the provision of GMES services. These missions are also often " GMES Contributing Missions - GCM " mentioned, so emissions that contribute to Copernicus / GMES.

ERS: The European Remote Sensing Satellite ERS- 1 (1991-2000) was the first Earth observation satellite of ESA. ERS -2 was launched in 1995 and delivered to 2011 data on sea temperature, to determine the wind direction and speed as well as for the measurement of atmospheric ozone distribution.

Envisat: Started in 2002, Envisat ( Environmental Satellite ) is the largest environmental satellite ever built. Sophisticated instruments are on board to Erdbeobactung, including ASAR ( Advanced Synthetic Aperture Radar ) and MERIS ( Medium Resolution Imaging Specrometer ). The main tasks of the satellites are constantly monitoring the land surface of the ocean, the atmosphere and ice. ESA Member States had unanimously decided to extend the ENVISAT mission until 2013, in April 2012, however, the communication broke off with the satellite and could no longer be produced.

The Earth Explorers program includes small research missions that are dedicated to specific aspects of our environment. These missions relate to the atmosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere, cryosphere and the Earth's interior with the aim of learning more about the interactions between these components and the impact of human activities on natural Earth processes. , There are six emission, which have been selected for implementation.

MSG Meteosat Second Generation: The Meteosat Second Generation satellite operated by the European Weather Satellite EUMETSAT and developed in close cooperation with ESA.

MetOp is Europe's first weather satellite with a low Earth polar orbit and is used for operational meteorology. MetOp is a series of three weather satellites that are launched in the period of 14 consecutive years, beginning October 2006. MetOp provides data for operational meteorology and climate monitoring are available.

SPOT ( Satellites Pour l' Observation de la Terre ) is a series of Earth observation satellites that provide pictures of the Earth with high resolution. SPOT -4 and SPOT -5 contain so-called VEGETATION sensors that are able to monitor the ecosystem on the mainland.

TerraSAR: TerraSAR -X is a satellite for remote sensing of the Earth with radar. From TerraSAR -X Data collected can be used in the following areas of use: hydrology ( soil moisture, etc.), meteorology, agriculture, forestry and land use, and environmental protection. TerraSAR -X was launched on 15 June 2007 and started its operational service in January 2008.

COSMO-Skymed/Pleiades: COSMO- SkyMed stands for " Constellation of small Satellites for the Mediterranean basin Observation " and is a system consisting of four Earth observation satellites that carry an imaging Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR ). Applications of these satellites include the seismic hazard analysis, monitoring of environmental disasters and agricultural mapping. PLEIADES is a composite consisting of two satellites that provide pictures of the Earth with high resolution.

DMC: Disaster Monitoring Constellation ( DMC) is a composite of six Earth observation satellites from five countries supplying the pictures for crisis and disaster management in the context of the International Charter on Space and Major Disasters.

TanDEM -X is a German radar satellite, the means of SAR interferometry, the earth's surface is stereographically measured together with the TerraSAR-X satellite. The launch took place on 21 June 2010.

Consists of five RapidEye satellites orbiting on a common sun-synchronous orbit at approximately equal distances from each other in the earth about 630 km altitude. The satellite system was developed as a pilot project for the commercialization of space and part of the new German space program since 1996 by the Munich-based space company Kayser- Threde based on ideas of the DLR. The common start of all satellite took place on 29 August 2008.

The satellite JASON -2 since 20 June 2008 in Earth orbit and provides data for the determination of ocean surface topography as well as the height of ocean waves and speed.

Other relevant initiatives

Other initiatives can also facilitate the development of Copernicus services:

• INSPIRE: The Infrastructure for Spatial Information in the European Community (INSPIRE ) is an initiative with the aim of creating a European spatial data infrastructure across state borders.
• Urban Atlas: The Compiled from thousands of satellite imagery Urban Atlas "Urban Atlas " provides detailed and cost digital maps available, thus guaranteeing that for city planners have current and accurate data on land use and land cover. The "Urban Atlas " enables urban planners, and assess risks better opportunities - from threat of flooding and the impacts of climate change, to identifying new infrastructure facilities and public transport. All cities in the EU will be covered by the Urban Atlas until 2011.
• SEIS: The Shared Environmental Information System ( Shared Environmental Information System) is a joint initiative of the European Commission, the EU Member States and the European Environment Agency (EEA) and is an integrated and Europe -wide environmental information system build.