The European Space Agency (ESA) is hosting its inaugural EarthCARE MAAP Hackathon, centered on the Earth Cloud, Aerosol and Radiation Explorer (EarthCARE) satellite mission. This mission is a collaborative effort between ESA and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), launched on May 28, 2024, as the sixth mission in ESA’s Earth Explorer Programme. The hackathon provides an opportunity for experts and newcomers to engage with EarthCARE data, which combines observations from four unique active and passive instruments. The event is designed to foster collaboration, share insights, and improve the Multi-mission Analysis and Algorithm Platform (MAAP) through a week of hands-on coding aimed at advancing the understanding of Earth's atmosphere.
Program Objectives
• Explore EarthCARE Data Usage: Participants will utilize the mission's Collaborative Environment on the ESA MAAP, which provides open and free access to all EarthCARE data, co-located computing capabilities, and a suite of specialized research tools.
• Enhance Accessibility: A key focus is to gather user feedback to improve the MAAP, making high-quality data resources more readily available so researchers can concentrate on scientific discovery rather than tool management.
• Promote Collaboration: The event aims to encourage data sharing and collaborative workflows, enabling experts to work together on analyzing EarthCARE data, comparing it with other missions, in-situ data, and climate models, and discovering novel use cases.
Hackathon Topics
Participants will form groups to work on a selection of topics. While the following preliminary topics are suggested, participants are welcome to propose additional areas of interest.
• Topic 1 (Stratocumulus Clouds): Cloud structure transitions – EC vs Models
• Topic 2 (Stratocumulus Clouds): Aerosol-cloud interactions – aerosol hitting clouds
• Topic 3 (Stratocumulus Clouds): Aerosol-cloud interactions – below cloud aerosol
• Topic 4 (Lightning): Vertical structure of lightning-producing storms
• Topic 5 (Lightning): Lightning prediction during convective storms
• Topic 6 (Tipping Points): Aerosol-cloud interactions – monsoonal precipitation
• Topic 7 (ML vs EC): ML classification vs EC classifications
• Topic 8 (ML vs EC): ML 3D reconstruction vs EC
• Topic 9 (Detection): Ship tracks detection and analysis
• Topic 10 (Detection): Contrails detection and analysis
• Topic 11 (Detection): Ashes and SO2 from fires and volcanoes
• Topic 12 (Global Maps): Global snowfall estimates
• Topic 13 (Global Maps): Global/Monthly/Seasonal maps and analysis
• Topic 14 (Comparisons): PACE, CALIPSO, ECVT, Climate models comparisons
• Topic 15 (Dust): Haboob analysis and Model comparison
• Topic 16 (Visualisation): Creation of new visualisations/dashboards/products
• Topic 17 (Format): Comparison of data formats, e.g., Zarr vs HD5
Participation and Eligibility
• Event Details: The 5-day hackathon will be an in-person event held from April 20–24, 2026.
• Location: The event will take place at ESRIN, ESA’s centre for Earth Observation programmes, in Frascati, Italy.
• Target Audience: Applications are invited from postgraduate students, PhD students, and post-doctoral research scientists with an interest in climate physics, atmospheric science, and EarthCARE applications.
• Prerequisites: Applicants should be familiar with Python programming.
• Language: The official language of the hackathon is English.
Application and Costs
• Fees: There are no participation fees for the hackathon.
• Availability: Participation is limited and will be granted on a first-come, first-served basis.
• Funding: ESA may provide partial funding for travel and accommodation. Applicants are also encouraged to seek funding from their home institutions or companies.
• Registration: To apply, interested individuals must complete the provided registration form.
• Deadline: The closing date for registration is Sunday, March 29, 2026, at 23:59 CEST.
Contact Information
• For any questions or enquiries, please contact: b.abis@stariongroup.eu and saskia.brose@esa.int.
This hackathon presents a significant opportunity for researchers in the atmospheric and climate science communities to gain hands-on experience with a new generation of Earth observation data. By participating, attendees can contribute directly to the enhancement of the MAAP platform, collaborate with peers on pressing scientific questions, and help unlock the full potential of the EarthCARE mission's comprehensive dataset.