We have the satellite data to show climate change is real. Now what?




"While political agendas don't always align with the urgent climate goals we should pursue, space programs like NASA and the European Space Agency (ESA) play a critical role in monitoring Earth. Although they often focus on outer space, these agencies also track key environmental changes on our planet, including weather patterns and human-driven factors like greenhouse gas emissions, deforestation, and shifts in seasonal ice coverage in the Arctic and Antarctic. This work is essential, as research has consistently shown that human activities are the main contributors to climate change."





Since 1972, the U.S. Geological Survey's Landsat Earth Observation satellites have been providing scientists and policymakers with vital, up-to-date data on Earth's surface. This data reveals a troubling reality: polar ice caps are melting, biodiversity-rich regions are being destroyed, and oceans are becoming more polluted, among other significant environmental changes. 


Despite the wealth of satellite data clearly showing the damaging effects of human activity on the planet, a pressing question remains—why hasn't this knowledge driven large-scale environmental action? 




Inès Otosaka, Director for Operations at the NERC Centre for Polar Observation and Modeling (CPOM), explained to Space.com that satellite observations are essential for tracking ice loss from the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets. By measuring changes in volume, ice flow, or gravitational pull, satellites provide crucial data over these vast regions, offering insights into how much ice is being lost or gained.



Satellites have greatly improved our ability to monitor real-time atmospheric changes and track gradual shifts like seasonal ice coverage, deepening our understanding of Earth's dynamic systems. However, while this increased visibility offers valuable insights, it has also brought frustration due to the lack of clear solutions to address these changes. Karen Jones, Senior Policy Analyst at the Center for Space Policy, proposes that a key step forward is to enhance accountability.


Jones highlights how combining satellite data with terrestrial and airborne sensors could create a more integrated Earth observation system. Such a system would enable more precise identification of sources of greenhouse gas emissions, including methane leaks from livestock, fracking operations, and damaged gas pipelines.



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We Have the Satellite Data to Prove Climate Change is Real. Now What?  

 

"Unfortunately, the timing of political agendas doesn’t always align with the climate ambitions we should all be striving for."  


 

While space programs like NASA and the European Space Agency (ESA) are often focused on exploring the universe, a significant part of their work involves monitoring Earth's surface. This includes tracking weather patterns and human-driven factors contributing to global warming, such as greenhouse gas emissions, deforestation, and shifting ice coverage in the Arctic and Antarctic. These efforts are crucial, as research has confirmed that human activities are the primary drivers of climate change. 






Since 1972, the U.S. Geological Survey's Landsat Earth Observation satellites have been providing scientists and policymakers with up-to-date information about various features of Earth’s surface, revealing a troubling picture. The planet is undergoing rapid changes: polar ice caps are shrinking, rich biodiversity is being lost, and oceans are becoming increasingly polluted, among many other environmental shifts. 


Despite the extensive data collected by satellites on the impacts of human activity on the Earth, a critical question arises: why hasn’t this knowledge prompted large-scale environmental action?


Inès Otosaka, Director for Operations at the NERC Centre for Polar Observation and Modeling (CPOM), explained to Space.com, “We can track how much ice the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets are losing using satellite observations of changes in their volume, ice flow, or gravitational pull. The ice sheets cover vast regions, and only satellite observations can help us chart how much ice they are losing and gaining.” 




Tools vs solutions

Space-based satellites and their ability to observe real-time changes in the atmosphere, along with mapping seasonal and gradual changes in Earth's features such as ice coverage, have radically changed the information landscape in terms of what we know about our relationship with our dynamic planet. 


But having the capacity to witness these changes without a clear path towards solving them has been frustrating for many. One pathway forward, suggests Karen Jones, a Senior Policy Analyst at the Center for Space Policy, is increasing accountability. 



In a recent paper, Jones explains how the merging of satellites with terrestrial and airborne sensors can create an integrated Earth observation data system, which can help identify problematic sources of greenhouse gas emissions such as methane from animal stocks, leaking from fracking operations and busted gas pipelines.  





To translate this data into action, Jones emphasizes the importance of collaboration across various fields. She advocates for the space industry, policymakers, landowners, industries, and civil society groups to work together to tackle the issues highlighted by satellite climate observations.




How do we achieve this? Freely available, open-source data promotes transparency and encourages collaboration among stakeholders, including regulators. Such data initiatives can foster environmentally responsible behavior and enable academics, civil society groups, and citizen scientists to utilize raw data to hold polluters and exploiters accountable. An example of this synergy is SkyTruth, a nonprofit that provides technical expertise in satellite imagery to Global Fishing Watch, an ocean conservation organization focused on tracking illegal fishing activities.




The private sector also plays a critical role in addressing climate change. The ongoing melting of Arctic sea ice is a significant concern because of its essential function in regulating global temperatures by reflecting sunlight back into space. For example, the U.K. startup Real Ice has recently experimented with refreezing Arctic sea ice by applying seawater on top of it, making the ice thicker and more resistant to summer melting, with promising outcomes.


Otosaka emphasized the broader implications, stating, "In addition to rising sea levels, the melting of ice sheets has significant repercussions for the global climate system. The predominantly white ice sheets help regulate Earth’s temperature by reflecting incoming solar heat back into space. The meltwater generated from ice sheet melting may also influence ocean circulation patterns."


Economics and Environments 


The elephant in the room is the continued reliance of our energy, transport, and agriculture sectors on fossil fuels. To achieve a large-scale transition from cheap but harmful energy sources to renewable alternatives, we need political will that goes beyond partisan divides—priorities often shift with changing governments. Additionally, there must be economic incentives, especially in a world economy still recovering from a global pandemic.



Unfortunately, political agendas do not always align with the climate ambitions we should strive for. To tackle this issue, we must continue to generate robust and reliable information on ice sheets and sea level rise. It's equally important to effectively communicate this information to the general public, stakeholders, politicians, the media, and anyone interested in the topic," Otosaka stated.