The Earth Observation Handbook explains the vital role played by Earth observation satellites in providing the information needed by governments and policymakers to make well-informed decisions for a sustainable future.


This animation of carbon dioxide (CO2) shows how our planet ‘breathes’.

The Earth Observation Handbook is produced by the Committee on Earth Observation Satellites (CEOS) and represent the space based earth observation capacity of some 30 space agencies around the world.

This edition has a particular focus on climate change and on the role of data provided by EO satellites, which are emerging as the single most important contribution to global climate observations. Note that space based observation systems rely on in-situ observations for calibration as well as basis for operations of the satellites. EO satellite data potentially contributes to more than half of the Essential Climate Variables recognised by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

Get the Handbook here.