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 23 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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First GERB images taken on 12 December 2002 at 16.25 UTC, showing total radiances (left) and short wave radiances (right).
In addition to its sophisticated imaging radiometer, Meteosat Second Generation (MSG), the new European weather satellite, is equipped with an instrument for climate research. The GERB instrument will enable environment experts for the first time to study the radiation balance at the top of the atmosphere, its changes over a given period and its potential influence on the climate. The Earth Radiation Balance (ERB) is the balance between the radiation coming from the Sun and the outgoing reflected and scattered solar radiation, plus thermal infrared emissions, to space. It is an important indicator for global warming and the greenhouse effect of the atmosphere. With the GERB experiment, scientists look forward to gaining new insight into the complex processes of climate change.
The picture shows total radiances (left) and short wave radiances (right).