Global Monitoring for the Environment and Security (GMES) is a European programme that brings together data from sensors on the ground, in the water, in the air and in space to monitor our environment and support every citizen’s security.
Earth Observation categories image: ESAGMES data will help us better understand how our planet is changing, why this is happening, and how best to act on this information. Providing information on natural disasters like forest fires or floods will help prevent large-scale property damage, and more importantly the loss of lives. Vital GMES information is provided to decision makers who rely on efficient strategic information to solve environmental or security issues. GMES provides such help via 5 categories of core services; land, marine, emergency, atmosphere and security. The first three core services are now fully operational. GMES also provides incentives to develop commercial Earth observation services for societal use. Within the seventh framework programme, research and development funding from the European Commission is provided to organisations that propose innovative ideas. The programme will significantly help us to better respond to the environmental changes and security issues in our lives.
The Netherlands and GMES
Along with important contributions to Earth observation satellites, the Netherlands also specializes in the analysis and use of that observation data here on Earth. TROPOMI, the latest Dutch space based environmental instrument, will bring continuity and improvement to the atmospheric instrumentation that provides information to the atmospheric science community. The instrument will measure air pollution and ozone levels world wide on a daily basis and at a 10x10 kilometer optimal resolution. Information from Earth observation satellites is analysed by scientists worldwide and KNMI delivers the information to the Dutch public. Beyond air pollution data, Earth observation also provides data to better understand coastal subsidence, efficient food production, earthquake characteristics, sea level changes, and even energy use’s effect on the environment.
Educational Video about the Earth credit: NASA
