AZORES

The Azores Region is a transcontinental archipelago and an autonomous territory of the Portuguese Republic situated in the Northeast Atlantic. The archipelago is comprised of 9 islands which play a major geostrategic role. The islands boast the most diverse types of habitat and ecosystems. The Portuguese EEZ (Exclusive Economic Zone) is one of the largest in Europe. The Azores Region has capabilities and interests in Maritime Services, Land Services, Emergency and Security Services, and Atmospheric Services.

One of the first European Space Agency’s ESTRACK station with launcher tracking capability is based in the Azores Region, on the island of Santa Maria. During the last year, EDISOFT invested in expanding the station’s capacity for receiving EO SAR images from Remote Sensing Satellite, thus enabling the Station to combine two missions: Launcher Tracking and Earth Observation.

Some examples of the services offered:

- Maritime services: Ocean Monitoring Systems; Satellite Station, NOAA ORBVIEW-2, HAZO station, AERONET station;- Vessel Archipelago (25m), Aguas Vivas (14m), 4-5 Small ;ADCPs, Wave Buoys, tide gauge stations; current meter moorings; NRT Capabilities, Santa Maria and HAZO stations.

- Satellite data archives and in situ data (satellite validation).

- Atmospheric services: PICONARE station – air quality, and Center of Climate, Forecasting and Climate Change in Terceira Island