OBSERVER: How Copernicus supports news coverage
OBSERVER: How Copernicus supports news coverage
sonia
Thu, 11/09/2025 – 09:24
Satellites provide a unique vantage point from above, enabling unparalleled observation of global events. Whether monitoring floods using radar data or providing insights into deforestation through optical imagery, the Copernicus Sentinel missions are instrumental in capturing the state of our planet in remarkable detail. Beyond their ability to help us monitor the Earth, Copernicus images also inform the public and empower storytellers and journalists to communicate environmental narratives in engaging and accessible ways.
In today’s Observer, we explore how Copernicus supports journalists around the world in sharing compelling stories about our planet with their audiences.
The story of our time
Climate change has been frequently described by media professionals as the “story of our time.” What was once a niche topic has become a staple of everyday news. A Reuters Institute online survey conducted in November 2024 across Brazil, France, Germany, India, Japan, Pakistan, the UK, and the US found that approximately half of the respondents encounter news or information about climate change on a weekly basis. News outlets, including television and online platforms, remain the dominant source of climate-related information, outpacing documentaries, social media, and interpersonal communication.
With a wealth of data on numerous climate variables, the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S), managed by the European Commission and implemented by ECMWF, has been an important resource for journalists reporting on these critical environmental stories. C3S provides robust climate data and tools that underpin informed decisions on climate adaptation and mitigation by policymakers, businesses, and the public. Key products include global temperature analyses, greenhouse gas monitoring, and seasonal forecasts. By delivering reliable information, C3S enables journalists to explain extreme weather events and long-term climate trajectories accurately. For instance, reports on record-breaking heatwaves or rising sea levels frequently cite C3S data to lend scientific credibility and narrative depth. C3S also publishes its Monthly Climate Bulletins, which track key climate change indicators such as global surface air temperature, sea ice, and hydrological variables, and the annual European State of the Climate report, which provides an in-depth assessment of the past year’s climate in Europe and beyond. In addition, C3S has developed a dedicated online Training for Data Journalists, helping media professionals better understand and apply climate data in their reporting.
Meanwhile, the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS) provides highly relevant insights into atmospheric composition, supporting news coverage of air quality, pollution, and emissions. Notably, during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, CAMS data enabled journalists to illustrate the marked reductions in air pollutants such as nitrogen dioxide tied to decreased economic activity. Additionally, reporters frequently use CAMS data visualisations to illustrate emissions from wildfires and their impact on air quality.
Worth a thousand words
Images created using Earth Observation (EO) data capture our planet in striking detail. Storytellers and journalists understand their impact well. This is why EO imagery, including the popular Copernicus Image of the Day, is so widely used.
The Copernicus Image of the Day is a daily visual feature on the official Copernicus website, showcasing either a satellite image of Earth from the Sentinel missions or a data visualisation from one of the Copernicus Services. Uploaded to the Copernicus website every day of the year, these images are designed to inform and captivate audiences, offering a fresh perspective on our planet. These daily images cover a wide range of topics, from routine observations of land, sea, cryosphere, and atmosphere, to human activities and catastrophic events, such as wildfires, floods, or earthquakes.
Such images have become indispensable for many media outlets, consistently boosting the visibility and profile of Copernicus worldwide. Journalists routinely draw on the Image of the Day to illustrate the scale of heatwaves, explain the impact of powerful storms on coastal areas, and even visualise volcanic eruptions. By providing compelling visual evidence, these images help journalists to convey complex environmental stories in a way that resonates deeply with audiences. This idea of using compelling imagery from Copernicus to tell stories was also explored in a previous Observer article, Telling meaningful stories with EO data.
A valuable but sometimes less visible part of Copernicus for the media is the Copernicus Land Monitoring Service (CLMS). As highlighted by Wired.it and Corriere.it, CLMS provides free and regularly updated datasets on land cover, urban expansion, deforestation, and biodiversity, which can be crucial for investigative and data-driven journalism. Journalists can use these maps and indicators to verify claims about environmental degradation, illustrate the pace of urbanisation, or provide independent evidence in stories about EU regulations such as the Deforestation-Free Products Regulation. Thanks to its high-resolution layers and long time series, CLMS helps newsrooms detect trends that are not immediately visible on the ground, from the shrinking of forests to changes in agricultural landscapes. Beyond raw data, the service also provides accessible visualisations and thematic bulletins, which lower the technical barriers for non-specialist reporters. Italian media outlets have already shown how CLMS can bring scientific robustness into mainstream reporting while also enriching stories with powerful visuals. In this way, CLMS acts as a bridge between complex Earth Observation science and the public sphere, empowering journalists to tell evidence-based stories with credibility and impact.
Boosting research
Copernicus data goes beyond imagery, generating a significant impact by supporting scientists and researchers across the globe. Researchers use Copernicus data to study our planet, producing papers with findings frequently covered by science journalists. For example, a BBC article highlighted a study in which scientists used Sentinel satellite imagery to identify four previously unknown emperor penguin colonies in Antarctica. Similarly, The Guardian reported on a study that combined Copernicus data and artificial intelligence to reveal that approximately 75% of the world’s industrial fishing vessels are “dark vessels”, operating without active public tracking systems.
That connection between data and real-world action was also a central theme of the 2025 United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC) in Nice, where delegates underscored: ‘there is no stewardship without knowledge,’ reinforcing the connection of how open, interoperable data is central to safeguarding the seas. For journalists covering these developments, the Copernicus Marine Environment Monitoring Service (CMEMS) offers exactly that: free, authoritative information on currents, sea surface temperatures, sea ice, and marine biogeochemistry. With the MyOcean viewer, reporters can visualise ocean changes in real time and link global commitments, such as the European Ocean Pact, with tangible, data-driven evidence. In doing so, CMEMS helps the media translate high-level pledges into stories that reveal how ocean governance and climate action play out on the water.
Although satellite imagery and other remote sensing products have been available since the 1980s, Copernicus has ushered in an era of freely accessible EO imagery and data. This increase in readily available remote sensing data and services has led to a surge in the production and sharing of images and animations online, enabling us to tell engaging and impactful stories about our planet.
The EU Space Support Office (EUSSO) regularly handles media requests related to Copernicus imagery and data visualisations or for help in connecting journalists with experts. If you are a journalist seeking assistance with EO imagery, you can contact the EUSSO team through this form. A comprehensive Earth Observation data visualisation good practice guide is also available here.
Thu, 11/09/2025 – 12:00
