GMES to ensure continuity of ice monitoring and forecasting

On 20 November 2008, the European Commission presented a communication named ‘The European Union and the Arctic Region’. Knowledge of this region is mainly based on observation from space by ESA’s ERS and Envisat satellites during the last 17 years.

The long-term satellite data sets, in combination with ESA’s future missions, are therefore the key of this EC communication. The Commission calls for continuity of this long-term space measurement to be ensured by GMES and highlights new opportunities in the Arctic region.

Moreover, the Commission suggests that marine data, within the European Marine Observation and Data Network, should be used in order to contribute to the establishment of the Arctic component of Global Earth Observing System of Systems.

For more information, please visit
http://ec.europa.eu/maritimeaffairs/arctic_overview_en.html