Research on and management of large, inaccessible areas, such as the Arctic and Antarctica, use satellite data for observations including:
- monitoring the ozone hole
- studying the extent of and changes in the Gulf Stream
- monitoring glaciers as a climate parameter
- charting ice edge and sea ice extent as bases for other activities such as monitoring polar bear habitats around Svalbard
National environmental interests are associated with both sea and land areas. Earth observation data are now being tested and are expected to contribute to more cost-effective environmental monitoring and to the development of key national figures in most of the sectors identified by the Ministry of the Environment.
In particular, satellite data are expected to contribute in
- biological diversity
- climate and ozone
- water pollution
- polar regions
- international co-opertion
The Norwegian Space Centre has several joint projects in environmental management using satellite data. Moreover, NSC co-operates with the European Space Agency and the European Commission to develop, evaluate and follow up the programmes that are defined under Global Monitoring for Environment and Security.
