GALENE: a future hyperspectral satellite mission for observing coastal and inland aquatic ecosystems and wetlands

Abstract

Coastal and inland aquatic ecosystems are of fundamental interest to society and economy, given their tight link to urbanization, economic value creation, and ecosystemic services delivery. They play a significant role in the carbon cycle, and they comprise critical habitats for biodiversity. Aquatic ecosystems are continuously impacted by natural processes and human activities. Many of these impacts become more frequent and severe, particularly with increasing population and climate change. Hence, there is a need (i) to generate reliable, robust and timely evidence of how these environments are changing, (ii) to understand processes causing these changes and their societal, health, and economic consequences, and (iii) to identify steps towards conservation, restoration and sustainable use of water and dependent ecosystems, and resources.