atmosphere Archives - National Centre for Earth Observation

CarbonARA: International Climate Science Team Launches Groundbreaking Campaign in the Amazon

Posted on: 2 October, 2025 Last updated on: 2 October, 2025 Written by: fp86 Categorized in: News

European Space Agency (ESA) has launched the CarbonARA project, led by the Earth Observation and Wildfire Research Group and the National Centre for Earth Observation (NCEO) at King’s College London. CarbonARA brings together a skilled, interdisciplinary team of UK, European, and Brazilian partners to deliver an ambitious field campaign in the eastern Amazon.

MicroCarb Delivers First Observations from Space

Posted on: 18 September, 2025 Last updated on: 2 October, 2025 Written by: Tara Thompson Categorized in: News

Launched on July 25, the MicroCarb satellite has successfully carried out its first Earth observations on August 28. The initial data were collected over the Amazon Basin — a priority region for the mission due to its key role in the global carbon cycle and the limited coverage of ground-based CO₂ monitoring stations.

MetOp-SG-A1 – New ESA Satellite to Boost Climate and Weather Monitoring to Launch

Posted on: 12 August, 2025 Last updated on: 16 September, 2025 Written by: fp86 Categorized in: News

Today an ESA Ariane 6 rocket will launch MetOp-SG-A1 the first of a new generation of EUMETSAT satellites into a polar orbit around 820 km above the Earth’s surface. The satellite will circle the globe each day, gathering detailed information to support climate science, environmental monitoring and weather forecasting.

MicroCarb Launches–New Carbon Monitoring Mission Showcases NCEO Expertise

Posted on: 28 July, 2025 Last updated on: 28 July, 2025 Written by: fp86 Categorized in: News

A new satellite designed to monitor atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) with key contributions from UK scientists at NCEO has successfully launched

MTG-S1 and Sentinel-4 Missions Launch

Posted on: 1 July, 2025 Last updated on: 14 July, 2025 Written by: fp86 Categorized in: News

The next Meteosat Third Generation (MTG) satellite and the first instrument of the Copernicus Sentinel-4 mission are due to launch today from Cape Canaveral, Florida, US. Expected time of launch 22:03 BST.

Artists impression of MicroCarb satellite image from CNES

MicroCarb – Carbon monitoring mission using NCEO expertise ready for launch

Posted on: 5 February, 2024 Last updated on: 13 June, 2024 Written by: jps48 Categorized in: News

Scientists at the National Centre for Earth Observation (NCEO), hosted at Space Park Leicester, have welcomed news that a satellite for monitoring atmospheric carbon dioxide to help tackle climate change has completed assembly and qualification in the UK, and is now ready for launch.

Canadian Wildfires Campaign

Posted on: 24 January, 2024 Last updated on: 28 January, 2025 Written by: fp86 Categorized in: Research Insights

Earth observation is vital in air quality modelling and assessments, particularly in regions where substantial and reliable ground networks are unavailable. The King’s NCEO team have produced algorithms that utilise satellite observations of active fires to estimate emissions of fire-sourced particulate matter.

Carbon Monoxide/Reactive trace gases

Posted on: 23 January, 2024 Last updated on: 23 January, 2025 Written by: fp86 Categorized in: Research Insights

Long-term satellite observations of carbon monoxide and other reactive trace gases in the atmosphere help us to understand the role of these gases in a changing climate and the change in these gases over time.

Thermal Hotspots & Haze over Northern Thailand, Laos and Vietnam on April 6th, 2023 (Source: NASA Worldview)

Air Quality Research in Southeast Asia

Posted on: 23 January, 2024 Last updated on: 28 January, 2025 Written by: fp86 Categorized in: Research Insights

Global and regional atmospheric models suggest that every spring, air quality in parts of Northern Southeast Asia is amongst the worst in the world, apparently due to smoke from biomass burning.

Air quality impacts from fires

Posted on: 23 January, 2024 Last updated on: 28 January, 2025 Written by: fp86 Categorized in: Research Insights

Earth observation is vital in air quality modelling and assessments, particularly in regions where substantial and reliable ground networks are unavailable.

Water Cycle

Posted on: 1 January, 2024 Last updated on: 28 November, 2024 Written by: fp86 Categorized in: Research Insights

The National Centre for Earth Observation (NCEO) has secured five years of investment in its environmental science research capabilities through the NERC’s National Capability Single Centre Science and National Public Good initiatives.

Satellite data reveals source of increased global atmospheric methane between 2020-2021

Posted on: 27 April, 2023 Last updated on: 27 June, 2024 Written by: jps48 Categorized in: News

On Monday, the 22nd of April, the National Centre for Earth Observation (NCEO) and Space Park Leicester proudly commemorated their inaugural Earth Day celebration.