The European Space Agency (ESA) is Europe’s gateway to space. Its mission is to shape the development of Europe’s space capability and ensure that investment in space continues to deliver benefits to the citizens of Europe and the world.
Find out more about space activities in our 22 Member States, and understand how ESA works together with their national agencies, institutions and organisations.
Exploring our Solar System and unlocking the secrets of the Universe
Go to topicProtecting life and infrastructure on Earth and in orbit
Go to topicUsing space to benefit citizens and meet future challenges on Earth
Go to topicMaking space accessible and developing the technologies for the future
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Geohazards Exploitation Platform gives users direct access to large Earth-observation datasets for areas at risk of geohazards such as earthquakes and volcanic activity. Radar ‘interferometry’ involves taking successive radar images of the same location and combining them to produce rainbow-hued ‘interferograms’. Like playing spot the difference, the slightest shift between images gives rise to distinct interference fringes, resembling contour lines on a map.
Pairs of Sentinel-1A radar images from consecutive passes over the same spot on Earth’s service are processed continuously and automatically to provide medium-resolution (200 m) images. This, and related interferograms, allows users to identify ground movement and other changes that may have occurred between satellite acquisitions. The service currently covers tectonic areas in Europe. Covering three million square km, this represents 360 interferometric pairs every 12 days.