The Path to Sentinel-5/UVNS Operations: Products, Calibration and Validation, Monitoring, and Data Processing Systems

EUMETSAT will operate the Copernicus Sentinel-5/Ultraviolet, Visible Near-infrared Short -wave infrared (UVNS) imaging spectrometer, which is hosted on the EUMETSAT Polar System - Second Generation (EPS-SG) A satellites. The first satellite in this series is scheduled to launch in the second half of 2025.

Developed by Airbus Defence and Space under an ESA contract, Sentinel-5/UVNS is designed to monitor atmospheric trace gases - such as ozone, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, formaldehyde, glyoxal, methane, and carbon monoxide - as well as aerosol and cloud properties. With its high spatial resolution and near-daily global coverage, it provides essential data for tracking atmospheric composition and supports the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS). Sentinel-5/UVNS will complement and extend the existing fleet of Low Earth Orbit air quality missions operating in the UV, visible, as well as near infrared spectral ranges, such as GOME-2, OMI, TROPOMI and OMPS. Furthermore, it will play a pivotal role in the constellation of geostationary air quality missions consisting of Sentinel-4, GEMS and TEMPO, forming the Geo-Ring, by serving as a travelling standard to monitor and maintain the consistency of the geostationary mission data.  

This presentation will provide an overview of the Sentinel-5 instrument and its products, along with the latest updates on the status of the ground segment developments as well as the preparation of offline processing systems for the analysis of in-orbit calibration measurements.

We will also discuss the progress of EUMETSAT's data processing and monitoring facility, which is being prepared for commissioning and routine operations. This includes activities for the preparation of the calibration and validation (Cal/Val) of operational atmospheric chemistry products, performed centrally at EUMETSAT as well as with support from the scientific community.