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https://www.esa.int/Applications/Observing_the_Earth/Copernicus/Sentinel-4/Sentinel-4_offers_first_glimpses_of_air_pollutants>
"Launched in July 2025, the Sentinel-4 ultraviolet–visible–near-infrared
spectrometer is hosted on the first Meteosat Third Generation Sounder
satellite. This dual-mission architecture allows for efficient use of the
satellite, combining meteorological and atmospheric composition monitoring
capabilities on a single platform.
The Sentinel-4 spectrometer is still undergoing commissioning for its
operational life – so these first images, featured below, are merely an early
glimpse of what’s to come.
Sentinel-4 measures solar light reflected by Earth’s surface and atmosphere,
resolving spectral signatures or ‘fingerprints’ of trace gases and aerosols
present in the atmosphere.
Unlike other satellite sensors that orbit Earth from pole to pole at a lower
altitude, Sentinel-4 operates in geostationary orbit, continuously observing
the same region – Europe and northern Africa – from a fixed position.
From this vantage point, Sentinel-4 can scan the same region every hour,
providing near-realtime updates on key atmospheric constituents.
ESA’s Sentinel-4 Mission Scientist, Ben Veihelmann, said, “Sentinel-4 is the
first European mission that will deliver hourly air-quality observations. By
capturing fast changes in air pollution, Sentinel-4 is a game-changer for
monitoring and forecasting air quality over Europe.”
Once operational, the instrument will routinely map concentrations of nitrogen
dioxide, sulphur dioxide, ozone, formaldehyde, glyoxal and aerosols. These data
will be fed into the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service.
In the meantime, the mission has already provided a few teasers, all of which
are based on its very first measurements acquired on 8 October."
Via Susan ****
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
