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Space’s role in monitoring our planet doesn’t stop there: from greenhouse gas emissions to ozone, sea ice to soil moisture and more, spaceborne instruments provide us with the independent and scientific facts which show that our climate is changing.

“Climate and Earth system science are essential to position countries at the forefront of the green revolution,” said Josef Aschbacher, Director of ESA’s Earth Observation Programmes.

“Space-based Earth observation plays an increasingly important role given the satellites' global reach with the same monitoring instruments. Europe is committed to contribute to a better understanding of planet Earth and to its preservation.”

The global, consistent coverage that satellite data provide is ideal for the type of research undertaken by climate scientists. But the long-term series of data needed by climate scientists –30 years or more – is significantly longer than the lifetime of satellite missions.

Comparing data acquired by different satellites is complicated as technology is constantly improving and there are often gaps in the data between satellite missions. To overcome this, ESA created the Climate Change Initiative, or CCI, which integrates datasets derived from different Earth-observing missions to produce the most comprehensive global, long-term records possible for each factor influencing Earth at large – called Essential Climate Variables.

These datasets show clear evidence of changes to our climate.

For a comprehensive view of our planet’s changing climate through the eyes of satellites, check out a new digital book for iPad and Android tablets featuring interactive maps and video interviews with top scientists.

Scientists interested in accessing Essential Climate Variable datasets are welcome to visit the CCI Open Data Portal.