ESA publishes Sentinel-3C’s first images and radar measurements

The European Space Agency published Sentinel-3C’s first colour images and radar measurements on 8 October, showing initial results from a satellite being prepared to continue Copernicus environmental monitoring.

The colour instrument captured Italy on 30 September, including the Alps and surrounding seas. A Canadian Arctic scene came from the same day, ESA said.

Its Caribbean image dates to 29 September and shows Cuba and the Bahamas, with turquoise shallow waters contrasting with the deeper ocean.

A separate radar instrument measures surface height. ESA released measurements across the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea, compared with a Copernicus Marine Service reference, and described the altimeter’s initial performance as comparable to current measurements.

Greenland ice-sheet measurements collected between 30 September and 4 October closely matched a reference elevation model, according to ESA. These are commissioning results from two instruments, rather than evidence that routine service has begun.

The Sentinel-3 mission supplies data to Copernicus services and users worldwide. After commissioning, Eumetsat handles routine satellite operations and marine and atmospheric data, while ESA delivers land, ice, inland-water and other atmospheric products.

ESA expects commissioning to take another five months. Its next announced release is the first observations from the sea and land surface temperature radiometer; the agency gave no publication date.