16/12/2025
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Copernicus Sentinel-6B, launched final month, has reached its orbit and delivered its first set of knowledge, which present variations in sea stage within the North Atlantic Ocean. This knowledge underlines how the mission will proceed to strengthen the long-term reference file of sea ranges, a key parameter of local weather change.
Following its launch on 17 November 2025, the primary knowledge from Sentinel-6B was captured on 26 November by the satellite tv for pc’s Poseidon-4 altimeter. The picture, proven under, is a mixture of altimeter knowledge from each the Sentinel-6 sea-level monitoring satellites: Sentinel-6B and its twin, Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich, which was launched in 2020. The picture exhibits the Gulf Stream present within the North Atlantic Ocean, off the jap coasts of the US and Canada.
The Gulf Stream is a vastly necessary space of the North Atlantic Ocean, not just for the function it performs in world climate patterns and local weather, but additionally as a result of it’s a busy transport route in addition to a key ecosystem for marine species and subsequently an necessary fishing zone.
ESA’s Venture Supervisor for Sentinel-6, Pierrik Vuilleumier, acknowledged the groups’ efforts, “That is the second launch for the Sentinel-6 mission and I’m more than happy to see that business and company groups have managed once more to ensure the important continuity of the imply sea-level file, including 5 years to the 35 years already amassed.”
State-of-the-art altimetry
The picture was created utilizing knowledge from the mission’s Poseidon-4 dual-frequency (C- and Ku-band) radar altimeter, which makes use of an modern mode that has improved efficiency and backbone in comparison with earlier satellite tv for pc altimeter designs. Radar altimeter devices measure the time it takes for radar pulses to achieve Earth’s floor and bounce again to the satellite tv for pc. Sentinel-6 additionally carries a microwave radiometer, which estimates the delay to the radar pulses brought on by Earth’s environment. Each these devices work collectively to allow very exact measurements of the sea-surface top in addition to wave top and wind pace.
Sentinel-6 additionally supplies knowledge for operational ocean forecasting by offering close to real-time knowledge on excessive climate at sea. The mission supplies knowledge to assist safer navigation at sea, higher coastal safety and smarter water-resource administration.
ESA’s Director of Earth Statement Programmes, Simonetta Cheli, mentioned, “Creating missions that may observe sea-level rise with such precision and long-term reliability is absolutely aligned with ESA’s core values and strategic targets. The company’s Earth Statement programmes are centered on offering environments that nurture the modern know-how for such satellites. We additionally set up the essential collaborations that allow these missions to grow to be key sources of actionable knowledge for the science neighborhood and for local weather coverage. I thank our European companions in addition to NASA and NOAA, and I sit up for seeing this mission proceed the legacy of reference knowledge on ocean situations.”
ESA’s Mission Scientist for the Sentinel-6 mission, Alejandro Egido, mentioned, “It is rather encouraging to see Sentinel-6B performing so properly quickly after launch. Whereas the devices will endure a cautious calibration part over the approaching months, the standard of the preliminary dataset could be very promising. As soon as this part is accomplished, the mission can be absolutely ready to increase the sea-surface top measurement file by at the very least 2030.”
Persevering with the legacy of sea-level knowledge
The Copernicus Sentinel-6 mission serves because the reference mission for satellite tv for pc altimetry, offering the sea-surface top measurements that underpin the monitoring of sea-level rise, a key indicator of local weather change. With sea-level rise excessive on the worldwide agenda, quite a few organisations have labored to make Copernicus Sentinel-6 the gold-standard reference mission for extending the file of sea-surface top measurements – delivering knowledge with better precision than ever earlier than.
As a part of the European Union’s household of Copernicus missions, Sentinel-6 is the product of outstanding worldwide cooperation, involving the European Fee, ESA, NASA, Eumetsat and NOAA, with extra assist from the French house company CNES.
