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Topic 1a - The Copernicus Programme and the Potential of AI

This topic provides an introduction to Copernicus

The Copernicus Programme is an EU programme for satellite Earth observation. The European Commission manages the programme and it is implemented in partnership with the member states, the European Space Agency (ESA), the European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT), the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF), EU Agencies and Mercator Océan International.

Copernicus provides a unified system through which vast amounts of data are fed into a series of thematic information services designed to benefit the environment, the way we live, humanitarian needs and to support effective policy making for a more sustainable future. The data comes from satellite Earth observation and in situ observations.

The data they provide is freely available to everybody, so we can make choices about what we do and how we as a society look after the environment. It serves a range of users, from businesses and public services – to researchers and curious individuals.

The name Copernicus pays homage to a European scientist and observer – Nicolaus Copernicus. Copernicus was a mathematician and astronomer who proposed that the sun was stationary in the centre of the universe and the earth revolved around it. This theory made a pioneering contribution to modern science.

There are six Copernicus services:

Atmosphere
Marine
Land
Climate Change
Security
Emergency

As there is a vast amount of data produced by Copernicus, artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) allow us to manage and understand that data in a way that has simply not been possible before.