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Cloud-free Africa

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May 27, 2016

Mosaic image of Africa, contains modified Copernicus Sentinel data (2016), processed by Brockmann Consult/ Université catholique de Louvain as part of ESA’s Climate Change Initiative Land Cover project — Mosaic image of Africa, via ESA’s Sentinel-2A satellite, containing modified Copernicus Sentinel data (2016), processed by Brockmann Consult/ Université catholique de Louvain as part of ESA’s Climate Change Initiative Land Cover project.

ESA’s Sentinel-2A satellite captured almost 7,000 images to make this mosaic showing a cloud-free view of the African continent – about 20% of the total land area in the world.

The majority of these separate images were taken between December 2015 and April 2016

Sentinel-2A has an orbit that causes it to revisit Earth’s equator every 10 days. Nevertheless, ESA said:

… being able to capture the Tropics cloud-free over the five months is remarkable.

Presented at the recent Living Planet Symposium in Prague, Czech Republic, this is the first mosaic of Africa generated through ESA’s Climate Change Initiative Land Cover project.

Deborah Byrd

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About the Author:

Deborah Byrd (asteroid 3505 Byrd) helps edit EarthSky.org and is a frequent host of EarthSky videos. Deborah created the EarthSky radio series in 1991 and founded EarthSky.org in 1994. Prior to that, she had worked for the University of Texas McDonald Observatory since 1976, and created and produced their Star Date radio series. She has won a galaxy of awards from the broadcasting and science communities, including having an asteroid named in her honor in 1990, a Public Service Award from the National Science Board in 2003, and the Education Prize from the American Astronomical Society in 2020. A science communicator and educator since 1976, Byrd believes in science as a force for good in the world and a vital tool for the 21st century. "Being an EarthSky editor is like hosting a big global party for cool nature-lovers," she says.