ESA - Sentinel-6

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The mission

With global mean sea level rising because of climate change, Copernicus Sentinel-6 is the next radar altimetry reference mission to extend the legacy of sea-surface height measurements until at least 2030. The satellite carries a Poseidon-4 radar altimeter and a microwave radiometer.

The launch

Date: 21 November 2020
Site: Vandenberg, California, US
Rocket: SpaceX Falcon 9

3.2 mm yearly sea-level rise
1336 km orbit altitude
66° orbit inclination
95% ocean measured

Sentinel-6

Sea-surface temperature January to mid-May 2023

Our oceans are in hot water

17/05/2023 9954 views 107 likes

Copernicus Sentinel-2 takes us over the Tarawa Atoll in the Republic of Kiribati – a remote Pacific nation threatened by rising seas.

Sentinel-6 returning most precise data ever on sea level

29/11/2021 8006 views 118 likes

Copernicus Sentinel-6 radar altimeter

New sea-level monitoring satellite goes live

21/06/2021 11503 views 102 likes

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Remote Sensing of Environment

Copernicus Sentinel-6: Enhanced continuity of satellite sea level measurements

Tracking sea-level change

Sentinel-6 passes in-orbit tests with flying colours

08/02/2021 6312 views 70 likes

Copernicus Sentinel-6 over the Andes

Galileo enhancing Sentinel-6’s sea level monitoring mission

15/12/2020 3700 views 43 likes

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Discover Sentinel-6

Sentinel-6 in orbit

Charting sea level

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A bleak prospect

A rising threat

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Loss of land ice is causing sea levels to rise

Why is sea level rising?

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Six key facts about Copernicus Sentinel-6

Satellite and instruments

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Copernicus Sentinel-6 radar altimeter

How it works

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Artist's view of Sentinel-6 during Falcon 9 fairing release

Launch

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Copernicus Sentinel-6 builds on heritage

Facts and figures

2702 views 8 likes

Ice lost from ice sheets contributes to sea-level rise

Team talk: 10 things about Copernicus Sentinel-6

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Copernicus Sentinel-6 in partnership

In partnership

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