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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The concept of removing ocean surface height caused by gravity from altimetric measurements to better see small-scale ocean shape from currents. In oceans, gravity creates large ‘bumps’ in places where gravity is high and pulling more water closer, or ‘valleys’ where gravity is low – represented by the red line. In order to see ocean currents alone (yellow), the shape from gravity needs to be removed.