ESA08 Oct 2026
Sentinel-3C returns its first views of Earth
Irish relevance: continuity for sea-surface temperature and ocean-colour data around Irish waters.
Copernicus Ambassador · Ireland
See Ireland differently with Copernicus
Free and open satellite data and services show change across Ireland’s climate, farms and forests, coasts and emergency events. Explore Irish examples, meet the national EO community and find the data, skills and opportunities to take your next step.
6Copernicus services
Freefull & open data policy
~5 daysSentinel-2 revisit over Ireland
24/7Sentinel-1 radar, through cloud
Start here
What is Earth Observation?
Earth Observation (EO) is gathering information about our planet from a distance, mostly from satellites, aircraft and drones. Sensors measure the light and energy reflected or emitted by land, water and air. Processed, those measurements become maps and indicators that people use to make decisions.
1 · OBSERVE
Satellites measure the surface
Optical sensors record reflected sunlight in visible and infrared bands. Radar (SAR) sends its own microwave pulse, so it sees through cloud and at night. That matters in Ireland.
2 · PROCESS
Data becomes information
Raw measurements are calibrated, corrected and combined into products: true-colour images, vegetation indices such as NDVI, flood extents, sea-surface temperature and climate records.
3 · DECIDE
Information supports action
Agencies, companies and researchers use these products to check farm payments, forecast seas, track climate change and map floods while they are happening.
Visible · what the eye sees (Sentinel-2, -3)Near & shortwave infrared · plant health, moistureThermal · surface temperatureMicrowave · radar, all-weather (Sentinel-1)
SENTINEL-1Radar imaging
All-weather, day-and-night SAR. Floods, ploughing and mowing, ships, ground motion.
SENTINEL-2Multispectral, 10 m
13 bands for crops, grassland, forests, burn scars and coastal change.
SENTINEL-3Ocean & land colour
Sea-surface temperature, ocean colour, algal blooms and national-scale land views.
SENTINEL-5PAtmosphere
Nitrogen dioxide, methane, ozone and aerosols for air-quality monitoring.
SENTINEL-6Sea level
Reference altimetry that tracks global and regional sea-level rise.
Europe’s eyes on Earth
The Copernicus services
Copernicus is the Earth Observation component of the European Union’s Space Programme. It combines Sentinel satellites with in-situ measurements and models, and delivers ready-to-use information through six thematic services. Data and most products are free and open to everyone.
CLMS
Land Monitoring
Land cover, land use change, vegetation and water bodies across Europe.
In Ireland: grassland and forest condition, CORINE land cover, peatland and habitat context.
CMEMSMarine
Ocean physics, sea state, currents and biogeochemistry, past, present and forecast.
In Ireland: Atlantic forecasting, aquaculture, offshore wind planning and search and rescue.
C3SClimate Change
Climate indicators, ERA5 reanalysis and seasonal forecasts.
In Ireland: temperature and rainfall anomalies, seasonal outlooks and adaptation evidence.
CEMSEmergency Management
Rapid mapping, flood awareness (EFAS) and wildfire information (EFFIS).
In Ireland: Storm Claudia flood mapping on the Shannon, November 2025.
CAMSAtmosphere
Air quality, greenhouse gases, dust, smoke and UV forecasts.
In Ireland: air-quality forecasts, smoke from wildfires and emissions monitoring.
SECURITYSecurity
Border, maritime and external-action support for authorised users.
In Ireland: maritime surveillance support. Access is restricted to authorised authorities.
DATA ACCESS → Copernicus Data Space Ecosystem · browser, APIs, Sentinel Hub WMS/WMTS
EO in action in Ireland
Four ways satellites already work for Ireland
Irish agencies, companies and researchers use Copernicus every day. Each example links to the services and organisations behind it.
Agriculture & Forestry
Grass, crops and forests from space
Sentinel-1 and -2 track mowing, ploughing, grass growth and forest change field by field.
DAFM uses EO to monitor CAP parcels nationally.
Climate Change
Measuring a warming island
C3S anomalies and seasonal forecasts put Irish weather in long-term context.
Anomalies are reported against a 1991–2020 baseline.
Marine
Coasts, harbours and the Atlantic
Ocean colour, sediment plumes, sea state and vessel detection around 3,000 km of coast.
Copernicus Marine feeds Irish ocean forecasting.
Emergency Response
Mapping floods through the cloud
Radar and rapid mapping show flood extent and what is affected within hours.
EMSR849: 53.1 km of road potentially affected.
EO image of the month · October 2026
Wexford Harbour
The River Slaney opens into a wide, shallow harbour where tides move sand and silt into shifting banks. Sentinel-2 records these sediment patterns, the Raven Point dunes and the reclaimed North and South Slobs in one view, a baseline for coastal change and water-quality work.
Latest intelligence
From ESA, Copernicus and Ireland
ESA08 Oct 2026
Introducing ESA’s Earth Virtual Expert
Irish relevance: an AI assistant for EO data discovery, useful for new Irish users.
EU SPACE13 Aug 2026
C3S Weather Replay app lets users explore historical weather
Irish relevance: look back at past Irish storms and heatwaves using ERA5.
For enterprise & researchers
Tenders, funding and calls
ESA, EU Horizon Europe, EUSPA, Enterprise Ireland and Research Ireland opportunities for Irish EO work, sorted by closing date.
Browse opportunities
For your career
EO jobs and studentships
Vacancies at ESA, EUMETSAT, ECMWF and EU agencies, and in Irish universities, agencies and companies.
See EO jobs
For everyone
Ireland’s EO network
Government agencies, companies and research centres that use or provide EO in Ireland, from the EPA and Teagasc to Treemetrics and TechWorks Marine.
Open the directory
EU Space Networks
Ireland’s Copernicus Ambassador
The EU Space Networks bring together organisations across Europe that promote the EU Space Programme: Copernicus, Galileo, EGNOS and IRIS². Maynooth University is listed as a Copernicus Ambassador. EODataHub, run by the National Centre for Geocomputation, is how that role reaches Irish users.
The EODataHub continues the work of Ireland’s Copernicus Academy and Relay node, now merged into the single Ambassador role.
Local champion
Promote Copernicus to Irish government, industry and the public, and show what it can do here.
Skills and education
Bring Copernicus data into teaching and research, and point people to Irish EO courses and training.
Access to data and services
Help Irish users find and use the right Copernicus data, services and tools.
Community and user needs
Connect Irish EO users and providers, and feed their needs back into the programme.