Sentinel-5 debuts pictures of atmospheric gases

Sentinel-5A is a complicated imaging spectrometer launched into the primary MetOp Second Era (MetOp-SG-A1) climate satellite tv for pc, which was launched into polar orbit in August 2025.

One other two Sentinel-5 spectrometers, Sentinel-5C and Sentinel-5D, shall be launched sooner or later, one on MetOp-SG-A2 and one on MetOp-SG-A3, attaining lifetime of greater than 20 years for the Sentinel-5 mission.

ESA’s Sentinel-5 Mission Scientist, Ben Veihelmann, mentioned, “Sentinel-5 is a really highly effective European mission to look at our ambiance. With its lengthy mission lifetime, Sentinel-5 shall be instrumental for monitoring greenhouse gases, ozone layer restoration, and air air pollution tendencies.”

The Sentinel-5 mission supplies observations of key air pollution, important local weather variables, and stratospheric ozone – the protecting layer shielding life on Earth from dangerous ultraviolet radiation.

From an altitude of 832 km in a polar sun-synchronous orbit, Sentinel-5 captures complete information throughout the complete globe every day. It enhances the Sentinel-4 mission, which observes Europe and North Africa hourly from geostationary orbit.  

The Sentinel-5 mission’s high-resolution imaging spectrometer operates throughout seven spectral bands, spanning the ultraviolet, seen, near-infrared and shortwave infrared ranges to measure a number of hint gases, together with ozone, nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide, formaldehyde, glyoxal, carbon monoxide, and methane, in addition to aerosols and UV index.

Sentinel-5A continues to be in its commissioning part, however this collection of first pictures, nonetheless, gives a tantalising glimpse of what’s to come back.

Heinrich Bovensmann, from the College of Bremen, famous, “It’s thrilling to see that an thought we have now been working for greater than a decade has come to life.”

The primary picture featured right here, a world map of ozone, was captured on13 October. Ozone performs a twin position in Earth’s ambiance: whereas stratospheric ozone shields life from dangerous UV radiation, ground-level ozone is a dangerous air pollutant that impacts human well being and ecosystems. The overall column density seen within the picture is dominated by the stratospheric element.

The opening in stratospheric ozone above Antarctica is clearly seen, with column density values falling beneath 220 Dobson Models. Though the usage of ozone-depleting substances resembling halogenated hydrocarbons was banned underneath the Montreal Protocol in 1989, their lengthy life within the ambiance implies that the complete restoration of the ozone layer has been gradual.

Proof of this restoration has solely begun to seem lately. Sentinel-5’s observations will lengthen and strengthen the long-term file of ozone monitoring, serving to scientists monitor the continuing restoration of this very important protecting layer.

The second picture reveals the vertical column density of nitrogen dioxide on 13 October 2025 over the Center East, the place increased concentrations may be seen round main cities and over industrial oil and fuel refineries, energy stations and smelters. Elevated concentrations are additionally evident over the densely-populated Nile Valley in Egypt.

Nitrogen dioxide is a serious air pollutant produced primarily by human actions resembling visitors, energy technology, industrial processes, cooking and heating. As a result of clouds can hinder the satellite tv for pc’s view of near-surface nitrogen oxide some areas seem much less clearly outlined.

The third picture additionally reveals nitrogen dioxide on 13 October 2025, however over South Africa. Excessive concentrations may be seen within the Highveld area, which probably come from the coil-fired energy stations.

The fourth picture presents the formaldehyde vertical column density on 13 October 2025. Elevated concentrations alongside the northwestern coast of Angola are linked to emissions from wildfires, whereas enhanced ranges over the Central African Republic stem from a mixture of fireplace exercise and biogenic emissions. Formaldehyde is a carcinogenic air pollutant.

As a result of formaldehyde is usually concentrated close to the floor, clouds can obscure the satellite tv for pc’s view, decreasing information protection. The present HCHO dataset is preliminary, and biases in partially cloudy areas shall be corrected as information processing improves.

The fifth picture reveals a plume of sulphur dioxide being emitted from the Klyuchevskaya Volcano within the Kamchatka Peninsula, far jap Russia. It is without doubt one of the most lively volcanoes on this planet – having erupted greater than 50 occasions since 1700 – is characterised by smoke constantly billowing above its summit.

The ultimate picture presents Earth radiance information from 5 to six October 2025. The information acquired throughout a whole day cowl the complete globe. Particular spectral ranges of the measurement information have been assigned to the colors pink, inexperienced and blue to generate this false color map. The map reveals land, ocean and clouds and has been used primarily for verifying the in-flight well being of the satellite tv for pc instrument.

ESA’s Sentinel-5 Venture Supervisor, Didier Martin, mentioned, “We’re extraordinarily happy to see these first preliminary outcomes, and I wish to thank everybody concerned in making this mission successful.

“Most significantly, the outcomes affirm that the Sentinel-5A imaging spectrometer is performing effectively, with calibration and the information processing chain progressing as deliberate. This places the mission firmly on monitor to assist scientific analysis, air-quality and UV well being alerts, and the monitoring of important local weather variables — in the end delivering advantages for residents, the surroundings, and the financial system alike.”

ESA’s Director of Earth Remark Programmes, Simonetta Cheli, mentioned, “Developed by the European House Company for Copernicus – the Earth remark element of the European Union’s House programme – Sentinel-5 builds on the success of the Sentinel-5 Precursor mission, introducing next-generation know-how for atmospheric composition monitoring.

“We’re very proud to contribute to this essential mission, working intently with our key companions – the European Fee, Eumetsat, and our devoted industrial groups. This achievement actually highlights the ability of collaboration.

“The mission continues to be in its commissioning part, however these first outcomes clearly present that every thing is functioning effectively. These preliminary glimpses are extraordinarily encouraging. We now look ahead to Copernicus Sentinel-5 turning into totally operational within the coming months.”