A horrific image of dry yellow France from space

This is a satellite image of goalkeeper 3 Interesting that it provides a lot of information” Some are invisible toeye naked ‘, explains Clement Albergel, researcher in the office of climate In ESA (European Space Agency). You should know that Sentinel 3 has Radiometer that measures surface temperature It’s not about… temperatureair in the meteorological sense of the term but rather the actual amount ofenergy Radiation from the Earth – which refers to the actual temperature of the Earth’s surface Of course, higher air temperatures are reflected in the Earth’s surface temperature values.

Sentinel 3 measured “ Record temperatures, 48°C in the UK, over 60°C in Spain “. These Sentinel 3 measurements,” Together with other instruments on board other . satellitesEarth observation Also measure surface temperatures useful in developing long chain Earth observations from spaceand better understand how it develops. This allows some Kind of validation climate models Some weather forecasts “.

The European Space Agency recently created a Database Surface temperatures covering the period 1996-2020 and which’ It shows a steady increase in global surface temperatures of 0.2°C per decade, with very strong regional variability This picture shows France, a country covered in vegetation in a state drought Advanced, well illustrated Heat wave period and succession heat waves affecting France and Europe “.

these waves From the heat which correspond to abnormally high temperatures, which have been observed for several consecutive days, make ” Part of the most worrisome climate extremes are the fragility of our societies “.These heat waves we’ve been seeing since June in Western Europe.” are the clearest signs Global Warming Due to human activities, as evidenced by Various reports of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) “.

they we” Providing insight into our future climate “, warns Clement Albergel. The researcher would like to point out that the latest reports issued by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change “. It does indicate that heat waves and, in general, extreme hydro-climatic events are increasing in intensity and intensity. repeat Because of climate change related to human activities and in particular emissions From greenhouse gases Up in the air “.

Favorable conditions for fires

As we see in the news (in Spain, Portugal, France, Greece, UK…), extreme heat conditions and high temperatures are accompanied by conditions conducive to fires,” Any low humidity in the air, low fall Drier plants create a higher risk of fire once there is a source of ignition It has been proven that those Conditions conducive to fires are observed more and more over longer and longer periods of time “.

Added to this is another consequence of the succession of these heat waves, ” It is associated with low precipitation rates, which is the phenomenon of drought Many rivers in Europe have now plunged to record levels, which has already happened serious repercussions forAgricultureIt is a sector that consumes a lot of water for irrigation “.

like every Natural disaster According to its characteristics (Precision, SWAT, reconsideration, spectral range, etc.), Earth observation satellites are quickly called in to assess damage and aid in rescue. They are called to help their organization, provide logistical assistance to the population and anticipate the development of a natural disaster. In the event of fires, satellites allow to follow their development from space and above all to monitor the various characteristics of fires such as ” Dry and fire-prone areas, active and combustible fires only, burnt areas, smoke and trace gas emissions “.

Assessment of burned areas using satellite imagery Also as another interest to serve as a baseline for monitoring forest regeneration “. If we put aside the idea of ​​risk control, it would be too.” It is important to develop a long time series of burning areas in the context of studying climate change “Because when the vegetation burns, it” It releases a large amount of greenhouse gases and particulates inatmosphere. It is estimated that approximately 25% to 35% of greenhouse gases are generated by combustion Biomass This is a variant that ESA is developing as part of Climate Change Initiative with Biomass mission. This satellite, which is scheduled to be launched in 2023, will be dedicated to monitoring and monitoring forests, One of the most important natural resources on Earth, for a better understanding of the carbon cycle “.

To better understand the role of Earth observation satellites used in detecting fires from space, it should be noted that this discovery is based on two physical principles. The first is related to I’abnormality Thermal conditions that occur when vegetation burns, and which involve a marked increase in the temperature of these areas on Earth that is much higher than those around them, can then be reported as active fires. This signal is very easy to detect, but generally it lasts for a very short time (a few hours, time of fire) The second possibility is to observe changes in surface reflection ( light reflected from our planet). These changes are due to A darker color for burnt plants, this scar The fire left her on the ground This signal is less visible from space but more. permanent, especially in some biomeswhere traces Fire They persist for months or even years after a fire, although in the tropics they may disappear within weeks “.

Better anticipate droughts and promote sustainable agriculture

To account for climate change and its consequences, Copernicus, the European Commission’s Global Earth Observation Program, will be equipped with new families of satellites in” Expansion Tasks Framework Copernicus Program “.as Clément Albergel asserts,” NotWe are working on new high-priority satellite missions of the Copernicus program “.each of them will help address the scientific, political and societal aspects of climate change, as well as projected major environmental challenges, such as Managing sustainable agriculture, food security, monitoring polar ice, all of which will be used to understand climate change “.

Related to the topics of this article (heat wavedroughts and fires), among these future missions, we can mention for example the Land Surface Temperature Monitoring (LSTM) mission that will embark on ” sensor Infrared High spatiotemporal temperature (Sentinel 3 enhancement) to provide global measurements of the temperature of the entire Earth’s surface, day and night. “, as well as the instrument that” will monitor Stress Field-level crop water supply and support practicesirrigation more durable “.

Satellite data analysis for mapping, monitoring and forecasting of Earth’s natural resources It makes it possible to understand what changes are happening, as well as when and where This mission will make it possible to respond in particular to the needs of European farmers who must make agriculture more sustainable in Context of dwindling water resources and environmental changes Due to the increasing rarity waterfor him ” Use in agriculture should be more efficient “.