Soil moisture data for global challenges

The world’s population is expected to reach over 8 billion within the next 15 years. According to United Nations estimates, we will need 30% more water, 45% more energy and 50% more food by 2030. Mankind must thus start considering the interdependencies of these three sectors, a relationship known as the water-energy-food nexus. Water is needed for almost all forms of energy production and power generation; energy is required to treat and transport water, and both water and energy are needed to produce food. One key to face our growing demands is the climate-related variable soil moisture. Soil moisture influences agricultural processes as well as global water and energy cycles.

Copernicus satellites provide a cost-efficient source of information to support the monitoring of water-energy-food nexus issues. Satellites deliver global soil moisture data at high temporal resolution. They also provide coherent, reliable and unbiased information about soil moisture conditions in regions where such data is otherwise inaccessible or unavailable. Satellite-based soil moisture data support the monitoring of droughts and floods. Such information is essential for optimising water supply, energy generation and food production to achieve sustainable development.