The Earth Observation Handbook


The CEOS Earth Observation Handbook presents the main capabilities of satellite Earth observations, their applications and a systematic overview of present and planned CEOS agency Earth observation satellite missions and their instruments.

New 2023 Edition!


The 2023 edition of the Earth Observation (EO) Handbook is timed to coincide with the first Global Stocktake (GST) of the Paris Agreement.

The purpose of this Handbook is to help develop a broad understanding of the importance of satellite EO for all stakeholders in the GST process.

We seek to address the major questions that might be faced by different user types when approaching the application of EO satellite data for their climate-related challenges and reporting obligations.

The aim is to provide practical examples and leads for further investigation so that the potential of the data available from the world’s EO satellites is fully realised.

Past Editions

Sustainable Development Goals
2018

This report has been compiled to help develop a broader understanding of the fundamental, strategic importance of satellite Earth observation data to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

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Climate
2015

This edition was prepared for the COP21 meeting in late 2015 to help develop a broader understanding of the fundamental importance of satellite EO to the information needed to inform our climate policies on all scales.

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Disasters
2015

This edition was prepared for the World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction in early 2015 and explores how satellite EO can contribute to the related information challenges, across a range of different countries and addressing varying capacity and infrastructure.

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