The Copernicus WEkEO platform is the EU reference service for environmentala data, virtual processing environments and skilled user support
In 2018, the European Commission launched the Copernicus WEkEO platform, a groundbreaking initiative providing seamless, unified access to Copernicus data, advanced processing resources and tools, and relevant additional datasets.
Jointly developed by leading Copernicus institutions: EUMETSAT, ECMWF, EEA, and Mercator Ocean International, WEkEO delivers comprehensive environmental data, user-friendly processing environments, and dedicated expert user support.
Inspired by Wikipedia’s collaborative approach, the name WEkEO (pronounced wikio) highlights joint efforts between the four key organisations – EUMETSAT, ECMWF, EEA, and Mercator Ocean International – and the broader user community ("WE"), knowledge advancement and sharing ("k"), and Earth and Environmental Observation ("EO").
WEkEO’s distinctive strength lies in its innovative distributed architecture, which integrates existing resources from partner institutions. This approach prevents redundancy, cutting costs for taxpayers and reducing environmental impacts associated with additional energy-intensive facilities. This streamlined approach ensures users always access the latest Copernicus data without relying on outdated archives. Additionally, its flexible framework enables seamless integration of new partners, supporting continuous growth and enhanced capabilities.
The European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT)is an intergovernmental organization based in Darmstadt, Germany, currently with 30 Member States. EUMETSAT operates the geostationary (Meteosat) satellites and Polar (Metop) satellites as part of the Initial Joint Polar System (IJPS) shared with the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). EUMETSAT is also a partner in the cooperative high-precision ocean altimetry Jason missions involving Europe and the United States (Jason satellites). EUMETSAT has been entrusted by the European Commission to exploit the four Sentinel missions of the Copernicus space component dedicated to the monitoring of atmosphere, ocean and climate. EUMETSAT will carry out these tasks in cooperation with ESA.
The European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) is an independent intergovernmental organization supported by 34 Member and Co-operating States. ECMWF is both a research institute and a 24/7 operational service, producing and disseminating numerical weather predictions to its Member States. This data is fully available to the national meteorological services in the Member States. The Centre also offers a catalogue of forecast data that can be purchased by businesses worldwide and other commercial customers. ECMWF has been entrusted by the European Commission to operate Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS) and Copernicus Climate Change Monitoring (C3S) Service.
MERCATOR OCEAN is an ocean data and information service provider in real and delayed time. The company is located in South-West France near Toulouse. MERCATOR OCEAN designs, develops and runs forecasting systems based on ocean numerical modelling fed by ocean observations, to describe the physical and biogeochemical states of the ocean at any time, above and beneath the surface, at global and regional scales. MERCATOR OCEAN is a private, non-profit company owned by nine major players in operational oceanography worldwide, that are privileged users and key scientific partners of the Copernicus Marine Service: CMCC (Centro Euro-Mediterraneo sui Cambiamenti Climatici), CNRS (French National Centre of Scientific Research), Ifremer (French Research Institute for Exploitation of the Sea), IRD (Institute of Research for Development), Météo-France and the UK Met-Office, NERSC (Nansen Environmental and Remote Sensing Center), SHOM (Hydrographic and Oceanographic Service of the French Navy), and the Spanish Puertos del Estado. MERCATOR OCEAN has been entrusted by the European Commission to operate Copernicus Marine Service (CMEMS).
Copernicus is the European Union's Earth Observation Programme, looking at our planet and its environment for the ultimate benefit of all European citizens. The Programme is coordinated and managed by the European Commission. It is implemented in partnership with the Member States, the European Space Agency (ESA), the European Organization for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT), the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF), EU Agencies and MERCATOR OCEAN.
The European Environment Agency (EEA) aims to support sustainable development by helping to achieve significant and measurable improvement in Europe's environment, through the provision of timely, targeted, relevant and reliable information to policymaking agents and the public. Our key goals are to be the prime source of environmental knowledge at European level, play a leading role in supporting long-term transition to a sustainable society, and to be a lead organisation for environmental knowledge-sharing and capacity-building