World Space Week 2024, 4th – 10th October, is an international celebration of science and technology, and their contribution to the advancement of human life. This year, the theme is space and climate change, so there’s no better time to consider the role that satellites have in the ongoing battle against climate change. From Earth observation (EO) satellites tracking environmental changes to satellite-powered Internet of Things (IoT) systems driving smarter, more sustainable solutions, satellites play an incredibly important role in enhancing our understanding of Earth’s climate and helping us to understand how we can slow down or prevent global warming.
The eyes and ears of our planet
Earth observation (EO) satellites are an invaluable tool for collecting data about the surface of the Earth. Using imagery and measurements, these satellites are used for weather forecasting, for monitoring long-term climate change, and for helping to predict natural disasters. From identifying and tracking forest fires, monitoring the speed of melting of permafrost in the Arctic, though to assessing how much heat is escaping from our homes, EO satellites provide data that’s impossible to capture from the ground. They allow us to view Earth from a unique vantage point, identifying environmental challenges and revealing the long-term effects of human activity on our planet.
Take the Landsat satellite constellation, which for over four decades, has been providing continuous imagery of Earth’s surface, offering crucial insights into how ecosystems are changing over time. Newer constellations like SatVu which is just coming into fruition, is expanding this capability, providing high resolution thermal imaging to monitor urban heat and environmental change in order to track energy waste in buildings and identify activity that contributes to climate change. This technology is helping to monitor the impact of extreme heat events, and rising temperatures in urban areas, and is also helping pinpoint sources of pollution and environment damage through monitoring changes to the natural environment and activity such as planned and illegal gas flaring, deforestation, thermal contamination where pollutants enter the sea, and wildfires.
Satellites and IoT: shaping sustainable practices
Beyond earth observation, satellites also enable connectivity that is crucial for sustainability efforts worldwide. The Internet of Things, powered in part by satellite data, is revolutionising industries such as agriculture and urban planning. For example, IoT systems allow farmers to track soil moisture levels, enabling them to reduce water usage, optimise crop yields, and minimise waste. Research suggests that smart irrigation management and soil monitoring can reduce water consumption by 25-30%. These insights are critical in a world where climate change threatens agricultural stability.
And similarly, in manufacturing, IoT allows businesses to access real-time data about resource usage. With this data, businesses can understand and reduce their environmental impact by optimising production to minimise waste and energy usage.
In urban environments, satellite IoT networks are helping to create smart buildings and even smart cities, where energy use is optimised, waste is managed more efficiently, and air quality is monitored in real time. By connecting remote and hard-to-reach areas to the IoT grid, satellites are also helping to ensure that sustainable solutions are not geographically limited.
Satellites are actively shaping the future of our planet
Satellites offer more than just monitoring capabilities, they also help us take proactive measures to combat climate change. Satellite EO data informs global policy decisions, helps scientists’ model future climate scenarios, and provides the evidence needed to push for sustainable practices. It’s a tool to help governments enforce environmental regulations, identify illegal activity damaging the environment such as deforestation and gas flares, as well as track emissions hotspots. Satellites are also invaluable in disaster management, providing critical data during and after natural disasters like hurricanes, floods, and wildfires. This data aids in relief efforts, helping to allocate resources efficiently and minimise environmental impact.
As we celebrate World Space Week, it’s clear that satellites are far more than just tools for exploration, they are essential in safeguarding our planet’s future. From observing changes in climate to enabling sustainable technologies, satellites are at the heart of our fight against climate change. And with advancements in satellite technology and new constellations like SatVu coming online, we have much more powerful tools at out finger tips to help us understand and combat climate change. Satellites provide a unique perspective of our planet, one that not only helps us understand the challenges we face but also equips us with the tools to overcome them.