The Arctic is experiencing a disproportionate increase in temperature compared to the rest of the planet, causing a series of cascading effects. This rapid warming has serious impacts on global climate patterns, populations and wildlife.

The Copernicus Imaging Microwave Radiometer (CIMR) mission will provide decision-makers with measurements along with evidence of changes and impacts in polar regions, with a focus on the Arctic.

The mission will have the largest radiometer developed by ESA and will provide high-resolution measurements of sea ice, ocean, snow and ice sheet surfaces. This will be crucial for understanding climate evolution in the polar region.

CIMR is one of six Copernicus Sentinel Expansion missions that ESA is developing on behalf of the EU. These missions will expand the existing capabilities of the Copernicus Space Component, the world’s largest provider of Earth observation data.