The European Space Agency (ESA) and FMI have established the Arctic-Boreal Earth Science, calibration and validation supersite in the FMI Arctic Space Centre in Sodankylä, Finland in 2025. The Supersite focuses on three science themes: Arctic-Boreal forest ecosystem, Hydrology and seasonal snow, and Greenhouse gases and atmospheric composition and aims to develop methods and data products for satellite cal/val using ground-based and airborne measurements. The existing data sets are distributed to end-users via the LITDB service, but during the project both the data sets and the distribution service will be upgraded. In addition, the Supersite provides testbed services for industry and offers campaign facilities for visiting researchers.
FMI partners with Finnish industry in developing the satellite calibration/validation and testbed capabilities of the Supersite. Project partners are CGI, Harp Technologies, Huld, Kelluu, Kuva Space and Vaisala.
Recent activities
During the winter 2025-26, Kelluu has done the first flights with their airship over the Supersite area using lidar and photogrammetric equipment to provide digital surface models of the area. Digital 3D mapping in different snow conditions and in different phases of the growing season helps in understanding snow distribution and conditions, forest structure and phenology. Integrating FMI sensors into Kelluu airship enables monitoring large areas, comparable to satellite pixel scale. Future campaigns will address e.g. spatial variability of atmospheric conditions.
Vaisala GMP343 CO2 sensors are tested in the Arctic conditions of the Supersite. Multiple sensors are used to study the spatial variability of CO2.
A joint workshop with Kuva Space focusing on hyperspectral measurements with ground-based, airborne and spaceborne sensors was held in in early 2026 in Sodankylä. During the visit, we discussed about future campaign plans and FMI presented Supersite’s instrumentation.
In January 2026, we held a questionnaire for end-users of the Supersite data and services to collect their opinions about the current state of the observations and services and ideas for future development of the site. We got a lot of feedback which was used directly in the development and investment plans.
Future plans
Supersite launch event is arranged in April 2026 together with the SpacEconomy project stakeholder event in Sodankylä to bring together Finnish space industry and key actors interested in the space sector.
The first phase focuses on mapping the needs for future EO cal/val and gaps in current Supersite instrumentation to fill these needs. In the second phase, beginning in May 2026, we will develop the Supersite measurement infrastructure and data systems, arrange measurement campaigns and develop data products.
Later in the project, we will develop a formal service framework for testbed services and other users of the Supersite.
For more information, contact PI Hannakaisa Lindqvist or co-PI Anna Kontu.
Supersite news
2026/01/21/ End-user questionnaire open
2025/06/30/ Sodankylä Supersite contract signed
2025/02/13/ ESA-FMI Arctic-Boreal EO Supersite launched
