Earth observation is structured around four major scientific domains: the atmosphere, the oceans, the solid Earth, and continental surfaces, along with cross-cutting themes such as climate, the carbon cycle, and the water cycle. Since 1959, more than 1,000 satellites have been deployed to enable this monitoring, including 200 very-high-resolution satellites, providing essential data to better understand our planet.
Each thematic area makes it possible to explore specific aspects of our environment, such as air quality, water temperature, variations in water storage, iceberg drift, snow cover, and land surface temperature, among others. Continuous observations collected over many years provide an in-depth understanding of our planet, supporting informed decision-making for its future.
To learn more about each domain, explore the links below.
4 major EARTH OBSERVATION DOMAINS
ATMOSPHERE
OCEANS
LAND SURFACES
SOLID EARTH
CROSS-CUTTING THEMES
CLIMATE
WATER CYCLE
CARBON CYCLE