The SMOS satellite detects faint microwave emissions from Earth’s surface
ESA/AOES Medialab
A European satellite that monitors sea ice thickness and soil moisture is frequently being blinded over Europe and the Russian Arctic due to heavy interference since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The interference is in a microwave frequency that almost all countries, including Russia, have agreed to keep clear.
“Since the Russia-Ukrainian war, we have been heavily affected and we lose significant amounts of data over Europe,” Klaus Scipal at the European Space Agency told New Scientist.
