January 25, 2023An iceberg the size of Greater London (ca. 1500 km²) has calved from the Brunt ice shelf in Antarctica’s Weddell Sea. The break was anticipated; the evolution of the associated crack structures has been monitored for many years with the help of radar satellites. Already in 2016/2017 the British Antarctic Survey’s Halley Research Station was moved from the location of the new iceberg to a site further inland on the ice shelf.
January 24, 2023Remote sensing data reveals the state of our planet and allows us to look into Earth's past: it is an indispensable tool to help us better understand and protect our planet. How can we secure this tool long term while providing continuous access? The European Copernicus Earth observation programme seeks to answer this question. On 24 January 2023, the 'Copernicus Data Space Ecosystem' was presented at the European Space Conference in Brussels. In the coming months, this new data ecosystem will replace all previous channels and make all Copernicus data and data products available via a single platform. The available data services will also be expanded. The German Aerospace Center (Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt; DLR) is part of the European consortium that was recently awarded the contract for this large-scale project.
December 21, 2022The snow line in the Italian Alps averaged 400 meters last spring, in some regions even almost a kilometer higher than usual. This was determined by researchers at the EOC. They evaluated around 15,000 satellite images of the Alps from 37 years. The scientists also investigated what influence the snow cover of the Alps had on the water shortage in northern Italy. This year, northern Italy experienced one of the most severe droughts in the last 70 years.
December 20, 2022Satellites keep an eye on the earth: They observe changes on the surface, analyze the atmosphere - and they even help to understand the spread of diseases. This has now been shown in a study conducted by DLR together with AOK Baden-Württemberg. The European Copernicus Sentinel satellites monitor air quality: concentrations of trace gases such as nitrogen dioxide or particulate matter are detected here daily from space. DFD combines them with data from ground-based measurements, information from emission inventories and with numerical computer models.
December 9, 2022After 7 year of quiescence, the Hawaiian volcano Mauna Loa began to erupt on Nov. 27. Evaluations of the EOC show the heavy sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions being carried long distances from Hawaii. The measurement of volcanic emissions allows, among other things, to warn air traffic of volcanic ash clouds that can be dangerous to aircraft engines.
December 9, 2022On December 8, 2022, Carmen Wegge, SPD Member of the Bundestag, was hosted at the German Aerospace Center (DLR) in Oberpfaffenhofen. She informed herself about the current research, especially with regard to her activities in the Interior and Legal Affairs Committees of the German Bundestag and for her local constituency of Starnberg-Landsberg-Germering.
Video: Nord Stream 2 pipeline leak near Bornholm