User requirements for a Copernicus Polar Observing System – Phase 3 report - Towards operational products and services

• Main Authors: NORDBECK Ola, DUCHOSSOIS Guy, KOHLHAMMER Günther, ANDERSSON Erik, DIEHL Thomas, DINESSEN Frode, ERIKSSON Patrick, FLETT Dean, GARRIC Gilles, GROS Jean-Christophe, JACQ Fabienne, MOLCH Katrin, NAGLER Thomas, NICOLAS Julien, STROBL Peter
• Language: English
• Published: Publications Office of the European Union 2021
• Subjects: Arctic; Greenland; Antarc*; Antarctica
• Online Access: https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC126916; https://op.europa.eu/en/publication-detail/-/publication/75eb4463-a3db-11eb-9585-01aa75ed71a1; https://doi.org/10.2889/90647

Monitoring the rapid changes of the Arctic environment and polar regions in general (including Greenland and Antarctica), is a high priority for the EU, as spelled out in the EU Space Programme entering into force in 2021. The assessment of the socio-economic consequences of this evolution is highlighted as a priority in the Council conclusions on “Space solutions for a sustainable Arctic” from November 2019 and, more recently, in the European Green Deal which further highlights the geopolitical dimension of the Arctic and the need for an integrated European Union Policy for the Polar regions. It is unanimously recognised that space-based observations are essential tools to collect and provide continuous observations of this sensitive and harsh environment, as basis, both, for reliable operational services and for climate- and environmental modelling and forecasting. The Copernicus programme, with today eight operational Sentinels satellites in orbit and complemented by European and other third-party Earth Observation missions, serves and encompasses key operational services for the polar regions. This high global and EU interest for the Arctic, combined with evolving user needs, was a strong incentive for the Commission to regularly assess the needs and requirements for space assets and applications. JRC.D.1 - Bio-economy