Sentinel-6B, which was launched on November 17, is the latest satellite in a series of spacecraft used by NASA and its partners to record sea levels since 1992. Their data has aided meteorologists in storm forecasting, infrastructure protection, and coastal community planning.After launch, Sentinel-6B began data cross-calibration with its predecessor, Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich, to give critical information on the Earth’s ocean.Sentinel-6B is the second of two satellites in the Sentinel-6/Jason-CS, Continuity of Service mission, which is a collaboration between NASA, ESA (European Space Agency), EUMETSAT (European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites), and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The European Commission provided financial support, and France’s space agency CNES (Centre National d’Études Spatiales) offered technical expertise.
6 things to know about Sentinel-6B
Six things you should know about Sentinel-6B according to NASA :Sentinel-6B will provide data on approximately 90% of the Earth’s ocean, with direct advantages to humanitySentinel-6B will add to a multi-decade record of sea level observations from orbit. This data is critical for improving public safety, city planning, and defending business and defence interests.NASA and its collaborators pioneered the dataset, which allows users in government, industry, and academics to better understand how sea levels vary throughout time. Copernicus Sentinel-6/Jason-CS data, when combined with information from other NASA satellites, is crucial for tracking how heat and energy move through the Earth’s seas and atmosphere, as well as monitoring ocean characteristics such as currents and eddies.Data from the Sentinel-6/Jason-CS mission aids NASA’s planning for the next phase of space explorationSatellite observations of changes in the Earth’s ocean have the potential to have significant consequences far beyond our planet. For example, while the Moon influences ocean tides on Earth, changes in those tides can also have a minor impact on the Moon. Data from Copernicus Sentinel-6/Jason-CS can aid increase understanding of this relationship, which can be applied to future lunar exploration missions.The Copernicus Sentinel-6/Jason-CS mission assists the United States in responding to difficulties by providing decision-makers with actionable informationData gathered by the mission assists city planners, as well as municipal and state governments, in making informed decisions on coastal infrastructure, real estate, and energy facilities. The mission’s sea level data also helps meteorologists make more accurate weather predictions, which are vital for commercial and recreational navigation. Copernicus Sentinel-6/Jason-CS data enhances hurricane forecasts, especially the risk of storm intensification, which can help in disaster preparedness and response.Data from Sentinel-6B will aid US national security initiativesSentinel-6B’s ocean and atmosphere observations will allow decision-makers to better protect coastal military installations from disasters such as nuisance flooding, while also supporting national defence activities by providing critical weather and ocean conditions. The satellite will accomplish this by sending near-real-time data from Earth’s atmosphere and seas to forward-looking weather and ocean models. Because the measurements are part of a long-term dataset, they can provide historical context for the new data.The Copernicus Sentinel-6/Jason-CS mission’s direct observation of sea levels delivers information critical to protecting coastlines, where nearly half of the world’s population livesSea level rise varies from one area to another, meaning that some coastlines are more vulnerable than others to flooding, erosion, and saltwater contamination of underground freshwater supplies, the latter of which threatens farmland and drinking water. Sea level measurements from Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich, and soon, Sentinel-6B, form the basis of U.S. flood predictions for coastal infrastructure, real estate, energy storage sites, and other coastal assets. Knowing which regions are more vulnerable to these risks will enable U.S. industries and emergency managers to make better-informed decisions about transportation and commercial infrastructure, land-use planning, water management, and adaptation strategies.The multinational collaboration behind the project allows for the pooling of capabilities, resources, and expertiseThe multidecadal dataset supported by this mission is the result of years of close collaboration between NASA, ESA, EUMETSAT, CNES, and NOAA. By combining expertise and resources, our collaboration has developed cost-effective solutions that have made precise, high-impact data available to both industry and government.
