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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Sea-surface temperatures from Envisat’s radiometer and the track of measurements taken from a radiometer on a ship sailing around the UK and across the Atlantic Ocean. Considered an ‘essential climate variable’, measurements of sea-surface temperature are important for understanding how the oceans exchange heat, gas and energy with the atmosphere. Long-term, accurate measurements that are stable over time are, therefore, fundamental for climate-change research. Measurements taken from ships are used to validate the measurements taken from satellites. This is part of the preparatory activities for the Sea and Land Surface Temperature Radiometer on the upcoming Sentinel-3 mission.