OBSERVER: An Exploration of the Copernicus Thematic Hubs

In November 2023, Copernicus, the Earth Observation component of the European Union’s Space Programme, launched four Copernicus Thematic Hubs. These hubs serve as single entry points to data and products generated by different Copernicus services on specific regional or thematic areas. The main objective of these hubs is to streamline user access to the vast data resources provided by Copernicus, in line with the European Commission's long-standing commitment to make this data easily accessible. In this week's Observer, we'll give you an overview of the four first thematic hubs to kick off a series of articles that aim to look at each of the hubs in closer detail.   

The Copernicus Health Hub  

The Health Hub was created in response to increased user interest in accessing Copernicus health-related data during the Covid-19 pandemic. Managed by the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS)[1], the hub serves as a comprehensive platform for health-related data and products generated by different Copernicus services. It collects and makes available all Copernicus environmental information relevant to health, which is defined by the World Health Organisation as "a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity".  

The aim of the hub is to provide a single access point to information that is essential for health policymaking, public health surveillance and decision-making in relation to EU health legislation. This includes information on the health impact of environmental and climate change, data on infectious diseases and health risks in different regions. For example, it provides key information to the European Environment Agency and the European Climate and Health Observatory. 
 

The Copernicus Health Hub has links to stories and use-cases where Copernicus data is used in relation to health. Credit: European Union, Copernicus Health Thematic Hub

The Health Data Store, part of the Health Thematic Hub, provides access to a wide range of health-related datasets. These datasets are divided into three main areas: Physical Health, Mental Health and Wellbeing, and Help and Support. In addition to the datasets, it also offers a wide range of high-quality environmental datasets, together with the tools required to process the data online. 

The Copernicus Coastal Thematic Hub 

The Coastal Thematic Hub helps policymakers and researchers access Copernicus data on coastal regions. It centralises Copernicus Marine, Land, Atmosphere, Climate, and Emergency datasets and use cases on a single platform. This allows users to access a wide range of data types, from satellite imagery to in situ observations, providing a comprehensive view of the coastal environment.  

 
The Coastal Thematic Hub can be useful in many respects. The wealth of data available plays a key role in supporting biodiversity conservation efforts, providing insights that can help protect various ecosystems. One notable application is the identification of biodiversity hotspots, enabling conservationists to develop better conservation plans, particularly when it comes to fisheries policy and maritime spatial planning. 
 

Within the Copernicus Coastal Thematic Hub, users can access, download and visualise Copernicus coastal Earth Observation data from the Copernicus Sentinel satellites and all Copernicus Services. Credit: European Union, Copernicus Sentinel-2 imagery

Data from the hub can also help communities to better manage coastal areas: data on coastal land use and riparian zones are essential to promote coherent land management in ecosystems vulnerable to human activities such as tourism, fishing or shipping. 

The Coastal Thematic Hub also provides relevant information for the implementation of the EU Maritime Spatial Planning Directive and regional policies. It is coordinated by Copernicus Marine Service (CMEMS)[2] , which coordinates both the Arctic and Coastal Thematic Hubs. 

The Copernicus Energy Thematic Hub 

The Energy Thematic Hub is a comprehensive platform for energy-related data and products generated by different Copernicus services. It provides a single point of access to information critical for energy policymaking, renewable energy development, and energy efficiency analyses. This includes information on renewable energy, energy consumption patterns, and the impact of climate change on energy systems.  

The establishment of the Energy Thematic Hub is in line with the EU's commitment to providing citizens and businesses with secure, sustainable, and affordable energy as part of the RepowerEU initiative, and is closely aligned with the priorities set out in the European Green Deal. Leveraging the wealth of environmental data collected by Copernicus over the past years, including climate forecasts and real-time observations, the Energy Thematic Hub aims to empower key stakeholders in the energy sector. Already operational in the wind and solar power generation industries, Copernicus data plays a crucial role in shaping the future of energy at both national and European levels. The Energy Hub, which is coordinated by the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S)[3], is emerging as a key facilitator, embodying Copernicus' commitment to advancing sustainable energy solutions. 
 

Copernicus satellite and in-situ data provide policymakers and the renewable energy sector with accurate information on solar radiation. Credit: European Union, Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Services (CAMS) data

The Copernicus Arctic Thematic Hub 

The Arctic is one of the world's most vulnerable regions to climate change, with warming rates around four times higher than the global average. The Copernicus Arctic Thematic Hub provides access to data and information on the Arctic region to support decision-making and sustainable practices in the region. By centralising Copernicus datasets and use cases on ocean, land, atmosphere, climate change and emergency services, it is set to revolutionise the way policymakers and researchers access Copernicus data on the Arctic.

Equally coordinated by CMEMS, the Arctic Thematic Hub is an important contribution to the EU's Arctic policy, which emphasises security, sustainability, peace, and prosperity in the region. The hub provides access to information critical to Arctic policymaking, climate change research and environmental protection. This includes information on climate change trends and impact in the Arctic, sea ice dynamics and Arctic biodiversity. 

The Arctic is one of the world's most vulnerable regions to climate change. The Copernicus Arctic Thematic Hub supports decision-making and sustainable practices in the region. Credit: Willian Justen de Vasconcellos, Unsplash.

These four thematic hubs are an important first step in making Copernicus more accessible to all and will certainly not be the last. Discussions are already underway to expand and develop thematic hubs on other topics, including cultural heritage, ensuring environmental compliance in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and climate security. The launch of these hubs is an important milestone in further improving the accessibility and usefulness of Copernicus data for a wide range of stakeholders.

Stay tuned for our next article, in which we will take a very close, hands-on look at the Energy Thematic Hub!
 

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1. CAMS is implemented by the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) on behalf of the European Commission.

2. CMEMS is implemented by Mercator Ocean International (MOi) and funded by the European Commission.

3. C3S is implemented by the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) on behalf of the European Commission.