29 octobre 2025
New tender to develop prototype Climate Data Records from rescued satellite radiometer archive
Project targets data-scarce 1980-2000 period using consolidated 1 km AVHRR observations
A call for proposals has been released to develop prototype Climate Data Records (CDRs) from a newly consolidated archive of 1 km AVHRR (Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer) Earth observations, collected from various satellites including EUMETSAT's Metop series. The European Space Agency (ESA), within the framework of its Climate Change Initiative (CCI), is seeking proposals to deliver this 24-month project. The project aims to fill a critical gap in long-term climate records between 1980 to 2000 – a data-scarce period preceding the advent of more advanced instruments such as NASA's MODIS.
A rescued archive extends climate records
Since 1978 the AVHRR satellite instrument series has provided continuous Earth observations, monitoring Essential Climate Variables (ECV) such as sea and land surface temperature, vegetation, fire, snow cover, and cloud properties. While 4 km resolution data have been globally available throughout this period, higher-resolution 1 km data was only collected regionally by independent receiving stations until 2008. The ESA CCI, an R&D programme generating long-term global CDRs from satellite observations to address ECVs, has now consolidated this fragmented data into a harmonised archive. This also covers the period from 1978 to 2007, which presents a major new opportunity to fully exploit this data set for climate science.
What the tender requires
Based on the available 1 km AVHRR data set, the selected contractor will be charged with developing and delivering at least three prototype CDRs for different Essential Climate Variables, covering at least three of four geophysical domains: land, sea or lakes, cryosphere, and atmosphere.
Project objectives include:
- Investigating and demonstrating the value of the ESA 1 km AVHRR for extending existing Climate Data Records into the past
- Recommending priorities for further ESA 1 km AVHRR data rescue activities.
- Establish an "AVHRR for Climate" community, to facilitate the exploitation of 1 km AVHRR data for the extension of CDRs to periods before 2000.
How to apply
The deadline for proposal submission is 28/11/2025 13:00 CET. For more information interested entities are advised to visit the ESA-Star Publication Portal.
