The Climate Change from Space Kit is an interactive PDF that explains the different variables that affect climate change and describes how ESA measures them from space.
Satellites observing Earth from space provide valuable information to understand our changing climate. They measure and monitor our vast oceans, land and atmosphere.
Satellites measure several aspects of Earth’s weather as well as provide essential data over decades to monitor our changing climate. Weather shows short term changes in the atmosphere. Some of the components of weather include temperature, rain, wind, hail, snow, humidity, flooding, thunderstorms, heatwaves and more. Climate refers to the average weather conditions in a specific area over a long period of time, of 30 years or more. They include trends in temperature, humidity, precipitation and ocean surface temperature.
Essential Climate Variables are key indicators that describe our planets changing climate. Scientists use these variables to study interactions and feedbacks, climate drivers as well as reservoirs, tipping points, and fluxes of energy, water and carbon.
The amount of carbon dioxide and methane in the atmosphere is unprecedented and levels are increasing. Tracking these gasses and the dynamics of natural and human-made sources and sinks is allowing scientists to improve the models that predict future global warming.
Sea-surface temperature measurements improve weather prediction and the study of marine ecosystems but also provide important information on the global climate, helping to understand how the oceans exchange heat and gases with the atmosphere.
Heat and moisture released from the ocean are the dominant drivers of atmospheric circulation and weather patterns.
The saltiness of ocean surface waters is a key influencer in the climate system. As well as wind driving ocean surface currents, salinity and temperature are key variables affecting ocean circulation.
https://esamultimedia.esa.int/docs/EarthObservation/CLIMATE_KIT.pdf