In the Spotlight

A new book from Thales Alenia Space: "Climate Change & Satellites"

In the Spotlight

A new book from Thales Alenia Space: "Climate Change & Satellites"

Available in

    In the run-up to the 21st UN international conference on climate change, COP 21, Thales Alenia Space has published a book entitled "Climate Change & Satellites". Reflecting the views of the world's top climate specialists, this new book spotlights the challenges inherent in climate change, along with the key role played by the space industry in a number of related areas, including meteorology, environmental management and oceanography.

    2015, a "climatic" year!


    Culminating in the COP 21 conference, 2015 is a pivotal year in terms of environmental management. The conference in fact faces a daunting challenge, since it aims, for the first time, to reach a global agreement allowing us to limit carbon emissions.

    2015 is also a very special year for Thales Alenia Space. After MSG-4, the fourth and last Meteosat Second Generation satellite, launched successfully on July 15, two more satellites built by Thales Alenia Space and intended for environmental management duties will be orbited this year: Jason-3, part of a French-American operational oceanography program, and Sentinel-3A, a European mission dedicated to environmental management. Alongside these launches, the company continues to work for the environment, as prime contractor for Meteosat Third Generation (MTG) satellites on behalf of the European Space Agency (ESA) and Eumetsat, on the SWOT oceanography satellite for French space agency CNES, and through decisive contributions to ESA's Copernicus program. Within the scope of the vast Copernicus program, Thales Alenia Space is prime contractor for the Sentinel-1 and -3 missions (each comprising two satellites), and will also provide the ground segment for the second mission and two instruments on Sentinel-6.

    Given this wealth of developments, Thales Alenia Space decided to publish a new version of this book. The first edition was published in 2009 and won universal praise from the scientific community, while also being recognized by the United Nations. The second version, fully updated, goes even further, with contributions from a number of renowned experts and an array of elegantly striking illustrations.

    Prestigious contributors


    The 2015 edition of Climate Change & Satellites is a collective effort, produced with Telespazio, the space agencies of Europe (ESA), Italy (ASI), France (CNES), Brazil (AEB) and the United States (NASA), Eumetsat and Mercator. It features articles by many of today's leading climate specialists, including Jean Jouzel, Antonio Nobre, Shaun Quegan, Anny Cazenave, Serge Planton, Lee Lueng Fu, and many more. The 2015 edition provides a concise picture of current knowledge about climate change and the associated role of space applications. It also clearly reaffirms the need for concrete actions to protect our environment.

    From the President's desk: about "Climate Change & Satellites"


    "The joint determination and fierce commitment of these leading experts in climate change provide our decision-makers with increasingly reliable data concerning the risks inherent in climatic disturbances – all of which is perfectly illustrated in this book. I am extremely proud to see that our customers, our partners and the world's leading climate specialists have all heeded our call, and agreed to contribute to this book. I would like to take this opportunity to thank them from the bottom of my heart." Jean-Loïc Galle, President and CEO of Thales Alenia Space.


    To read the book, please click here

    To read the book using your smartphone:

    The book was published by Suds Concepts