Observing Earth from space can help protect the planet

Satellites are key to understanding — and tackling — the climate crisis

To develop solutions to the climate crisis on Earth, scientists are increasingly looking to information from space. Orbiting Earth as quickly as every 90 minutes, satellites can gather important data about our planet’s systems. They can monitor wildfires, tell us which gases are in the atmosphere, and identify regions that are becoming dangerously hot and dry and those under threat from storms and flooding. This knowledge is key to understanding climate change, its impact and — crucially — what we can do about it.

Monitoring the planet, known as Earth Observation (EO), requires state-of-the-art remote sensing technologies, huge supercomputers to store and process the data, plus a network of scientists to analyse and interpret the information. Satellites are vital to EO because many of the most important measurements — such as those needed to understand changes to the atmosphere, oceans, land and ice — can only be accurately captured from space.

Cutting-edge climate research

From developing new satellite technologies to creating detailed climate modelling, researchers in the UK are at the forefront of EO science.

RAL Space develops sensors and instruments for spacecraft that can take highly detailed and accurate measurements, such as the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere and changes in land and ocean temperatures.

The National Centre for Earth Observation turns this satellite data into long-term records and shares it with scientists, including those at the National Centre for Atmospheric Science, who have developed one of the most advanced atmospheric models in the world. This model, which took five years to create, has been used to simulate a range of potential future scenarios for the Earth’s climate, including the effects of an average rise in global temperatures of 2°C (widely accepted as being a tipping point for the planet).

Predicting future climate change

Modelling the impact of climate change in this way means we can better predict and plan for the future — both in the UK and around the world. It highlights how a rise in average temperatures doesn’t create a uniform effect but instead affects regions differently, from heatwaves in Europe to monsoons in India.

This information can be used to demonstrate the risks to people and economies, and help governments adapt accordingly. The UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, for example, used EO to map rain patterns on the fringes of the Sahara — an area that’s seen a dramatic increase in the frequency and intensity of storms over the past 30 years. Decision-makers in West African regions were then able to use the information to help plan flood management and create more climate-resilient cities.

Informing positive action

At a critical time for the planet, advances in EO — such as the TRUTHS mission which will enable a 10-fold increase in climate data accuracy — are fast-tracking informed decision-making on a global scale.

Modelling enables experts to pinpoint where climate change policies are working and where there’s an urgent need to move onto a different path. It forms a crucial part of natural disaster management, identifying areas most at risk from fires, storms and heat waves and enabling targeted adaptation measures.

Data from space is providing us with the information we need to change our behaviour on Earth — and tackle the most important issue of our time.

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