Two ESA polar orbiting satellites are now operative, ERS-2 and ENVISAT. Their data are downloaded at Tromsø and Svalbard, and are used in monitoring of the seas and the environment.
Data from the Canadian RADARSAT-1 satellite are also essential for Norway. To ensure long-term, regular access to data for operational uses, Norway has entered an agreement with Canada for use of data from the RADARSAT-2 satellite.
ESA plans to launch several research satellites which will be used for various applications:
- CRYOSAT (launch in 2004) – for measurements of glaciers, ice and snow
- GOCE (launch in 2006) – for measurements of the geoid (shape of the Earth) and for calculating ocean currents
- SMOS (launch in 2007) - for measurement of soil moisture content and ocean salinity
- ADM/AEOLUS (launch in 2010) - for measurements of atmospheric dynamics and changes
The European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT) now has two operational geostationary satellites, METEOSAT and Meteosat Second Generation (MSG). The organisation is working with ESA to develop polar orbiting satellites, the first scheduled for launch in 2005. EUMETSAT’s American partner, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), has satellites that are in daily use in weather forecasting, monitoring of ocean temperatures and ice monitoring.
Landsat-7, SPOT satellites and IRS satellites are used in thematic mapping and mapping of biological diversity.
Earth observation programmes vital for Norway 2002-2013
(*) No final decision taken yet
