In a surprising discovery, scientists have observed a glacier in West Antarctica rapidly diverting ice from its neighboring glacier, a phenomenon dubbed “ice piracy.” This significant shift, previously believed to occur over millennia, has occurred in less than two decades. The study, led by researchers from the University of Leeds and published in The Cryosphere, …
The European Space Agency (ESA) and the Antarctica InSync coordination team are inviting the global scientific community to participate in the upcoming International Antarctica InSync Science Webinar. This online event aims to provide an in-depth update on the progress and future plans of the Antarctica InSync programme, focusing on establishing working groups centered around key …
This PolInSAR course is an online, hands-on course that aims to develop an understanding of the information content of multi-parameter SAR data in an interactive way, without assuming any prior/background knowledge – though some knowledge in Python programming is welcome. It is organised around 11 sessions over 11 weeks, with lectures and tutorials ranging from SAR image formation up …
A study, recently published in the Marine Pollution Bulletin, shows that it’s possible to safeguard 30 % of the Atlantic Ocean’s high‑seas biodiversity, without severely disrupting fishing or shipping routes, by harnessing satellite data to define “seascapes” and redirect marine traffic. Using bio‑optical information from ESA’s Envisat, Copernicus Sentinel‑3, alongside NASA’s Aqua, OrbView‑2 and NOAA‑20 satellites, …
A major step forward in Mediterranean Sea research was taken last week, on April 7th, with the inauguration of the advanced Mediterranean open science Data Analysis Lab (MeDAL) at ESA’s ESRIN Science Hub. The launch of the new initiative was formalised through the signature of a Memorandum of Intent by Simonetta Cheli, Director of ESA …
A paper, recently published in Nature Communications, reveals that a major subglacial lake drainage event beneath Antarctica’s Thwaites Glacier in 2013 temporarily doubled the rate of ocean-driven melting beneath its ice shelf. The sudden release of over 7 km³ of freshwater formed a buoyant plume that intensified the melting effect of warm, deep ocean …
The report from the 2nd European Polar Science Week is now published, marking an important milestone in the cooperation between the European Commission (EC) and the European Space Agency (ESA) on polar research. The European Polar Science Week 2024 took place from 3 to 6 September 2024 in Copenhagen, at the Black Diamond, Royal Danish …
A study published today in Nature reports the results of the Glacier Mass Balance Intercomparison Exercise (GlaMBIE) project. It provides the most comprehensive comparison of glacier mass loss estimates to date, integrating multiple satellite and in situ observational techniques, including glaciological measurements, satellite-derived digital elevation model (DEM) differencing, altimetry and gravimetry measurements. By systematically assessing …
The conference report from ATMOS2024 has just been released, a comprehensive document detailing highlights of the talks and posters presented at the conference held in Bologna, Italy, in July 2024. Fundamentally, the outcomes of this conference were used to develop a series of community-derived recommendations to ESA which are included in the report. This year’s …
Responding to the unprecedented ‘triple crisis’ of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution, requires a quantum leap in the way we observe, understand and predict the dynamic evolution of the Earth system and its complex interactions with human activities and ecosystems. Digital Twins have recently emerged as potential solutions to address these needs. The ESA …
