The European Space Agency will be hosting this expert workshop to discuss outstanding questions, satellite sensing capabilities, and the products available to assess the Earth Radiation Budget (ERB). The workshops objectives are to help shape the contours of possible future observing systems and identify priorities for science studies with existing and upcoming datasets.

This invite-only, in-person workshop takes place from 23 to 26 February 2027 at the European Centre for Space Applications and Telecommunications (ECSAT) in Harwell, UK. The meeting will start and end at lunchtime.

Through a complement of keynote talks and ample discussion time, the workshop will review past and current observational capabilities, best practices in exploiting Earth observation products, and user needs for satellite-based ERB data records. The conclusions will help define the scientific pathways needed to advance our understanding of the Earth system and inform missions addressing continuity needs and observational gaps.

The workshop session themes are:

  • Top of Atmosphere (TOA) Radiation Budget
  • Surface Atmosphere Radiation Budget
  • Cloud Radiative Response
  • Aerosol Radiative Forcing
  • Climate Model Evaluation
  • ERB products supporting climate policy
  • ERB products in commercial applications

Each session will feature two invited presentations: one outlining the topic’s importance for understanding the climate system, including outstanding scientific research questions, and the other reviewing current observational capabilities, including key gaps and limitations. These presentations will be followed by open floor discussions, with all participants, on how to address knowledge gaps, including research priorities and strengthening observational capabilities.

Status updates from recent and upcoming satellite missions (e.g., CERES, EarthCARE, LIBERA, FORUM) will also be presented in a poster session as a complement to the session discussions.

Note that the workshop will address terrestrial outgoing fluxes only and will not address incoming solar radiation monitoring requirements.

More details to come soon.

Scientific Steering Committee

  • Benoit Meyssignac, CNES/LEGOS, France
  • Helen Brindley, Met Office, UK
  • Hirohiko Masunaga, Nagoya University, Japan
  • Maria Hakub, NASA, USA
  • Norman Loeb, NASA, USA

ESA Organising Steering Committee

  • Thomas August, EOP-SMA
  • Ed Malina, EOP-SGS
  • Michael Eisinger, EOP-SCA
  • Sarah Connors, EOP-SCA