Artistic rendition of the Sentinel-3 satellite.

....in Frascati, Italy, on March 20th through the 22nd, 2012, on the calibration and validation of the Global Monitoring for Environment and Security (GMES) Sentinel-3 satellite instruments. The aim of the meeting is to present the current status of calibration and validation activities for Sentinel-3 and to gather feedback and inputs from the international calibration/validation community.

Planned for launch in late 2013 and 18 months later, respectively, the two GMES Sentinel-3 satellites will operate in tandem measuring sea-surface topography, sea- and land-surface temperature, and ocean and land colour, providing near-real-time and offline operational products in support of ocean forecasting systems and climate and environmental monitoring. ESA and EUMETSAT are working together to specify and develop a dedicated ground segment to prepare for routine Sentinel-3 operations in which EUMETSAT will be responsible for the monitoring and control of the satellites and the generation of near-real-time and offline products to support the marine user community, while ESA will be in charge of ensuring the generation of the equivalent products for the land user community.