European Space Agency's Climate Office, often tweeting about ESA's Climate Change Initiative programme
Joined October 2012
- Tweets 3,986
- Following 452
- Followers 12,182
- Likes 2,241
1,252 Photos and videos
Jun 12
New: Formaldehyde (HCHO) Climate Data Record using Tropospheric Monitoring Instrument (TROPOMI) observations provides monthly gridded column density data from May 2018 to December 2024.
This update incorporates reprocessed air mass factors based on an updated albedo climatology and the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service Reanalysis Model, as well as refined background correction and quality values. Additional diagnostic parameters, such as uncertainties, a priori profiles and averaging kernels, are also included.
Access is free: climate.esa.int/en/catalogue…
4
239
Jun 11
18 annual maps spanning two decades of forest carbon data. 🌳
The ESA Climate Change Initiative Biomass project just released v7.0 of its global forest above-ground biomass dataset, covering 2005-2012 and 2015-2024.
Free to access: climate.esa.int/en/catalogue…
ALT Global Above-Ground Biomass estimates for 2024, derived from the the CCI Biomass v7 product
6
19
500
Jun 10
The May 2026 European heatwave made headlines. But how do we actually monitor extreme heat from space? Land surface temperature (LST) is the key. Join Abigail Waring in her webinar about LST: what it is, how it is retrieved from satellite observations, and its importance for climate research. 🛰️
📅 17 June 2026 | 16:00 CEST
🔗 Register here:
us02web.zoom.us/webinar/regi…
ALT Promotional ESA webinar graphic with a colored heatmap map of Europe. Text reads: “WEBINAR – SATELLITE RETRIEVALS OF LAND SURFACE TEMPERATURE & RELATED APPLICATIONS.” Date/time: “17/06/2026 | 16:00 CEST.” Button: “REGISTER NOW.” ESA (European Space Agency) logo at top left.
9
292
Two cities. Two concerts. One shared perspective.
Following our presentations in London and Birmingham ahead of the @SpaceStationE concerts, here's what the audience learned about:
🌍 ESA's role in Earth observation is critical in helping us to understand, address and adapt to climate change
🏔️ Astronaut & ISS commander @astro_luca joined a team at the Gorner Glacier in Switzerland to validate satellite data on ice elevation, velocity and mass change on the ground
🎶 Paired with @ilaneshkeri's music and film: science and art can speak with the same voice
1
115
New article highlights the introductory Jupyter notebook from the @esa Climate Change Initiative Biomass project that enables you to access, visualise and analyse global above ground biomass data independently. You can track changes in forest carbon stocks over time at resolutions ranging from 100 m to 50 km, covering the period from 2005 to 2024. The article on above-ground biomass and forest monitoring is now online: earth.esa.int/eogateway/eo-i…
4
16
568
Today is #WorldEnvironmentDay and the signs from our planet are clear. @UNEP is calling for action with #NowForClimate. Forests, oceans and wetlands offer solutions. But all of this needs a foundation: reliable, long-term data from space. See how @CAlbergel explains why systematic Earth observation is key to making informed climate decisions. 👇
6
5
9
1,395
This study strengthens agricultural drought monitoring!
ESA-funded researchers compared high‑detail surface soil moisture maps from Copernicus Sentinel‑1 and Sentinel‑2, and a five‑year (2017–2021) daily time series from @esa's Climate Change Initiative soil moisture data record. The different data sets broadly agreed on when the wet and dry periods occurred, highlighting the value of pairing fine spatial detail with stable daily climate data records.
As drought increasingly threatens agricultural production and water supplies, monitoring it is crucial for early warning and better-informed farming decisions.
Read the open‑access paper here: doi.org/10.1016/j.agwat.2026…
ALT Surface soil moisture and normalised indices per date of the product time series across the Occitanie and Tunisian study sites.
4
30
1,297
May 29
We're proud to be part of @SpaceStationE, a stunning musical experience by @ilaneshkeri. Performed with an orchestra and choir, it will be accompanied by a breathtaking triptych film including satellite images.
Before the concert begins, ESA will take the stage to demonstrate how satellites help us understand and respond to climate change. Join us as we explore how seeing our planet from space transforms our understanding of our place in the universe.
📍 31 May, London, Royal Festival Hall
📍 5 June, Birmingham, Town Hall
Grab your tickets 👉 comm.tix.to/spacestationeart…
7
147
May 26
In climate modelling, one week of extreme fires can outweigh months of “normal” smoke if we don't measure precisely enough🔥
A new study improves how a global climate model sizes wildfire smoke emissions to differentiate between normal fires and extreme "mega fires". The researchers used daily fire emissions (instead of monthly averages) and adjusted them based on how much vegetation is estimated to burn each day. This helped the model better match satellite observations, e.g. during events like the September 2020 California fires.
The team used carbon monoxide measurements from Copernicus Sentinel‑5P satellite to make sure the comparison focused on real wildfire plumes.
Read the paper here: t1p.de/uarz1
ALT Multi-panel scientific figure comparing global wildfire smoke aerosol optical depth (AOD) in 2020: two world maps show modeled AOD (AOD_STAN) and satellite-observed AOD (AOD_VIIRS) with darker shading indicating higher smoke aerosol, plus side plots showing AOD versus latitude and model-to-satellite ratios; boxed regions highlight key fire areas such as the western U.S., South America, and central Africa.
1
6
22
599
May 21
For 60 years, mysterious seismic vibrations at a period of 26 seconds from the Gulf of Guinea have puzzled scientists. 🌊
Now solved: Southern Ocean storm swells travel thousands of km and trigger resonance in fluid-filled cracks beneath the seafloor — like blowing across a bottle at just the right angle.
📄 Poli et al. (2026) in @Nature Communications:
nature.com/articles/s41467-0…
2
6
320
May 20
🔥 This Friday, 22 May: join ESA's Climate Change Initiative at #GISTAM26 for a wildfire keynote (hybrid session) and hands-on satellite data tutorial in Benidorm.
14:30-15:30 Keynote: us06web.zoom.us/j/8281952329…
15:45-17:45 Tutorial details: insticc.org/node/TechnicalPr…
1
160
May 19
📢 Registrations and call for abstracts are now open for the UK Earth Observation Conference 2026!
#UKEO2026 will bring together the UK’s Earth observation community to share the latest science, applications and innovations shaping our use of Earth observation data and technology.
The conference provides a vital platform to:
🤝 Build collaborations
💡 Exchange ideas
📊 Explore how Earth observation data supports national and global priorities
📅 15-17 September 2026
📍 @uniofwarwick
🔗 Register and upload your abstracts here: ukeo.org/
ALT Promo graphic for the UK Earth Observation Conference 2026, 15–17 September at the University of Warwick, with a stylised glowing Earth.
1
9
284
May 18
There are 2 days left to register for our webinar 'Satellite retrievals of vegetation parameters'.
Find out how ESA's Vegetation CCI dataset can be used to track leaf density, light absorption and long-term vegetation change from space. This webinar is ideal for anyone working in vegetation monitoring, land surface modelling or phenology, or who is simply interested in the topic.
🔗 Register here: us02web.zoom.us/webinar/regi…
ALT Six-panel transect maps of CCI VP CRDP-2 FAPAR for 2004, 2012, and 2019: whole transect (top) and best-quality pixels (bottom), with grey areas for missing or low-quality data
2
212
May 13
❓What makes ESA's Vegetation CCI dataset stand out – and how can you access, visualise and analyse it? Join us for our upcoming webinar on 20 May, where @christiaan_tol will answer these questions and demonstrate the insights that can be revealed by this kind of long-term record, from the immediate impact of forest fires to subtle shifts in seasonal phenology. Secure your spot here: us02web.zoom.us/webinar/regi…
ALT Four-panel plot for a Portugal forest fire: fAPAR and LAI time series show a sharp 2017 drop at the red star with gray uncertainty, plus seasonal cycles for 2017 and following years
3
9
315
May 12
Congratulations to Professor Shubha Sathyendranath on receiving the 2026 Nansen Polar Bear Award! For nearly five decades, her ocean-colour research has helped track life in the ocean from space – including ten years as Science Lead for ESA's Climate Change Initiative Ocean Colour project. 🛰️climate.esa.int/en/news-even…
© Imperative Space
3
12
342
May 11
Meet @christiaan_tol – one of the scientists behind ESA's Vegetation CCI dataset.
In his role as science lead at the @FacultyITC, he uses a combination of human intelligence, computing power, and a vast archive of satellite data to track changes to Earth's vegetation🌳
Join our next webinar on 20 May to hear from him: us02web.zoom.us/webinar/regi…
ALT ESA quote card with portrait of Christiaan van der Tol and text about combining measurements from multiple sensors, with validation using ground truth data
1
5
182
Ground temperatures in permafrost regions are increasing – and the data leaves no doubt 📈
In last month's webinar, Annett Bartsch demonstrated how @ccipermafrost records have documented changes in lowland areas since 1997 and revealed regional differences. In mountain regions, satellite-derived rock glacier movements tell a complementary story: acceleration is widespread. Missed it? Watch the recording here: climate.esa.int/en/climate-c…
ALT Visual showing a model of different permafrost layers and stored carbon age
12
47
1,776
🔥 Interested in regional fire monitoring? New CCI Toolbox Notebooks make it easier than ever to capture and track specific fire events.
Find out when and where fires occurred with satellite-based datasets that reveal seasonal fire patterns across different regions. You can see how fire timing varies throughout the year and discover which land types are most affected by wildfires.
Explore ready-to-analyse datasets for your region of interest and run all Toolbox operations seamlessly. Perfect for wildfire risk assessment, seasonal pattern analysis, and land management decisions.
Ready to dive into fire data? Check out the step-by-step Notebook: github.com/esa-cci/esa-clima…
ALT Fire maps (January 2019 & December 2019) from Sentinel‑2 FIRE dataset for M'bomou, Central African Republic: red shades show day of month fires occurred (brighter = earlier), black = unburnt, grey = unobserved.
5
17
1,016
Each data point in ESA's Vegetation CCI dataset is derived from up to 222 satellite observations. Over 21 years, this level of detail builds up to provide a comprehensive record of the planet's plant cover 🍃 In our next webinar, @christiaan_tol will demonstrate how this dataset can be used to track everything from forest fire recovery to seasonal changes in photosynthesis, and how it can be applied in your own research.
📅 20 May 2026 | 16:00 CEST
🔗 Register here: us02web.zoom.us/webinar/regi…
ALT ESA webinar poster with leafy green forest canopy under blue sky, text: “Satellite retrievals of vegetation parameters” and date 20/05/2026
4
20
804