ESA is pleased to announce the availability of Copernicus Sentinel-3 altimetry data set generated by the NEW ESA Sentinel-3 Thematic Instrument Processing Facilities (T-IPFs). Planned to be deployed in spring 2022 by the ESA Payload Data Ground Segment (PDGS), the LAND T-IPFs are dedicated and specialized delay-Doppler and Level-2 processing chains over Sea-Ice (SI), Land Ice (LI) and Hydrological (HY) surfaces.
In January 2022, a first Test Data Test (TDS) was produced for Hydrology and Sea Ice thematic products (details here: https://sentinel.esa.int/web/sentinel/-/s3-stm-thematic-products-1st-dataset ).
Following this first TDS release, ESA is pleased to announce the availability of a new TDS, including Land Ice thematic products. The Land Ice T-IPF includes major processing evolutions, as detailed below. Compared to the current Sentinel-3 STM level-2 products, the format of the new level-2 thematic products has changed. The document describing the new Sentinel-3 STM land level-2 Product Format Specifications (PFS) is available in the ftp folder (see below for access information).
In the newly generated TDS, the Sea-Ice and Hydrology products have been updated compared to the first TDS, to include some adjustments of the product geographical coverage. These TDS are released to the end users prior to the deployment of the T-IPFs, so they can become familiar with the new product format, and adapt their tools and processes in consequence. For any feedbacks or questions regarding the TDS, please contact: s3mpc-stm-user-request@groupcls.com.
Due to Copernicus Sentinel-3A In-Plane [CAM] Manoeuvres, SLSTR and OLCI products degradation is expected for sensing time from 16-03-2022T23:55:51 to 17-03-2022T01:47:50.
Due to Copernicus Sentinel-3A Lunar Calibration operation, instruments products degradation is expected for sensing time from 18-03-2022T15:38:02 to 18-03-2022T16:28:32.
An evolution of the Sentinel-1 processing baseline will be introduced on 23 March for all newly generated products. This evolution features two main items:
A minor evolution of the Sentinel-1 Level-2 OCN product format, in line with the product format version 3.11. The subject product format specifications are available here together with a set of corresponding sample products.
Further to our news of 3 September 2021 the correction of Radio Frequency Interference (RFI) will be applied to IW and EW products.
This evolution will be activated with the deployment of the new instrument processor version 3.5.1.
Products generated after the deployment of this version will tag version 3.5.1 of the operational processor in the corresponding product metadata and will be aligned with the new product format specifications 3.11.
Due to Copernicus Sentinel-3B orbit correction manoeuvre, SLSTR products degradation is expected for sensing time from 16/03/2022T07:39:45 to 16/03/2022T07:49:35.
Due to Copernicus Sentinel-3A Out-of-Plane [CAM] Manoeuvre, Level-1 and Level-2 production will be degraded, from sensing time from 13-03-2022T14:26:57 to 13-03-2022T15:02:17.
As previously announced on 16 February 2022, an optimization in the processing of Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) and Formaldehyde (HCHO) products has been put in place. This implies that Ozone (O3), Tropospheric O3, CLOUD, SO2 and HCHO products, which belong to the same processor suite, are now processed with the new processor version 02.03.00.
The data processed with the new version are available on the Copernicus S5P Hub starting with the orbits/dates provided below. Please note that the Near Real Time (NRTI) products for data acquired during the processing downtime period were not generated.
Data orbits/dates starting from:
Detailed information is provided within the dedicated Product Readme files for SO2 and HCHO available in the S5P Products and Algorithms web page.
Copernicus Sentinel-1A was unavailable between 19:07 UTC on 1st March 2022 and 12:01 UTC on 2nd March 2022, due to a Payload Data Handling and Transmission (PDHT) sub-system software anomaly.
No SAR data were generated during this period, data acquired slightly before this period may have been affected.
We are pleased to announce a new processing baseline [FRP_NTC.004.07.00] for Copernicus Sentinel-3 concerning the following products:
SL_2_FRP in NTC timeliness
Information about the changes and the characterisation of the new version of the FRP NTC products is available in the following product notice:
A new version v1.4 of the Product Data Format Specification is also published.
The new processing baseline was deployed on the 28th of February 2022.
Following the previous news on the Sentinel-1B anomaly that occurred on 23 December 2021, very detailed investigations related to the satellite power system’s affected unit are still on-going. The anomaly is related to a 28V power regulated bus that supplies power to the SAR electronics subsystem. The reactivation of both the main and redundant power regulators of this 28V bus have not been successful so far.
Whereas good progress has been made on the investigation of 18 identified possible failure scenarios linked to the affected power unit, at this stage the root cause of the anomaly has not been clearly identified. Satellite system level analyses are conducted in parallel, with the aim to perform new recovery attempts of the unit.
The satellite remains under control, the thermal control system works properly, regular orbit control manoeuvres are routinely performed.
Sentinel-1 users should assume a long-term unavailability of data provision (several months). It is however too early to consider a permanent unavailability of Sentinel-1B.
We apologize for the inconvenience caused.
Calling on all interested users of Sentinel data, who would like to submit their results, turning their experiences into 'success stories'.
If you have a good story to tell, of how any of the Sentinel satellites are producing data that bring benefit to your work and/or to society, please contact the Sentinel Online Editors at: contentmatters4sentinelonline@ejr-quartz.com with your proposals.
