Context
Some WEkEO datasets can be displayed on a map without downloading anything, thanks to WMS/WMTS links. These standard links can be copied from the catalogue and used in GIS software and other mapping tools.
In this article, we will see which datasets provide a WMS/WMTS link, where to find and copy the link, and what you can do with it. We will also introduce the Copernicus Connect plugin, an alternative for QGIS users.
What are WMS and WMTS?
WMS (Web Map Service) and WMTS (Web Map Tile Service) are standard protocols used to share maps over the internet. Instead of downloading the data itself, your tool requests a rendered map from the server, which is displayed in your project.
WMS generates a map image on request
WMTS serves pre-rendered map tiles, which makes navigation and zoom faster
Because they are standards, these links work with many GIS applications and tools.
📌 Note: WMS/WMTS services provide a visualization of the data. To get the actual data files (for analysis, for example), please use the download options of WEkEO.
Find datasets with a WMS/WMTS link
WMS/WMTS links are only available for datasets that can be viewed in the Expert Data Viewer. Datasets that can only be downloaded do not provide this feature.
To list them easily:
Open the WEkEO catalogue
In the filters on the left, select Viewable
Click on the dataset of your choice to open its Details page
💡 WEkEO Pro Tip: you can combine the Viewable filter with other filters (Copernicus Service, Area, Sensor, etc.) or with the free-text search bar to narrow down the list.
Copy a WMS/WMTS link
Once the Details page of a viewable dataset is open:
Click on the WMS/WMTS tab, located under the dataset image (next to Description)
In the Map render services section, you will find the list of the available datasets, with their link
Click on the copy icon next to the link you need
A single product can contain several datasets, which is why several lines are listed. For example, the Global Ocean Physics Analysis and Forecast product lists, among others, the daily mean (P1D-m), the monthly mean (P1M-m) and the hourly mean (PT1H-m) datasets. Pick the line that matches the temporal resolution or the variable you need.
Use the link in your tools
Once copied, the link can be used in any tool that supports WMS/WMTS services. Here are some examples of use cases:
Desktop GIS applications (QGIS, ArcGIS, etc.): display WEkEO data next to your own layers
Maps combining several sources: overlay WEkEO data (e.g. sea surface temperature) with your local data, such as administrative boundaries or sampling points
Web mapping applications: display WEkEO layers in a web page or dashboard
Notebooks and scripts: visualize the layers in a Python environment, such as the WEkEO JupyterHub
📌 Note: the WMS/WMTS services are operated by the data providers, so their behavior can differ from one dataset to another (for example, time-enabled layers or limits on the displayed area).
Use Copernicus Connect as an alternative in QGIS
If you work with QGIS, you do not necessarily need to copy links manually. The Copernicus Connect plugin gives you direct access to WEkEO datasets from QGIS. With it, you can:
Search the WEkEO catalogue from QGIS
Visualize Copernicus map layers through WMS/WMTS, without downloading any data
Define an area of interest and download datasets
🔍 To learn how to install and use the plugin, check our dedicated article.
What's next?
Additional resources can be found in our Help Center. Should you require further assistance or wish to provide feedback, feel free to contact us through a chat session available in the bottom right corner of the page.