Search

Highlights • Multi-angle, multi-spectral and polarised radiances from the Metop SG satellite. • An easy to use and well characterized polarized radiance product by EUMETSAT. • Radiometric error characterization by measuring sub-pixel spatial frequencies. Abstract The Multi-viewing, Multi-channel and Multi-polarisation Imager (3MI) on board the Metop-SG satellites will observe polarised multi-spectral radiances of a single target within a very short time period from the visible to the shortwave infrared region with daily global coverage. In order to provide the users of 3MI data with an easy to use and well characterised radiance product EUMETSAT will make a geoprojected and regridded 3MI level-1C product available to users within 70 min of sensing. The paper describes the methodologies of geoprojection and regridding used for the processing of such a product. In addition, the colocation of ancillary information, in particular from the METimage 20-channel imager providing subpixel information of the radiance field and of clouds is described in detail. The latter information is provided as colocated geometric average values in the product and is also used to provide a realistic scene-dependent error introduced by the radiance regridding. Initial estimates, using a synthetic test dataset of top-of-atmosphere radiances of 3MI and METimage at native instrument resolution, provide an upper limit for the additional radiance error contribution depending on the scene homogeneity. Colocated METimage cloud-top height information is also used for parallax correction of the coregistered radiance data either to the cloud height or to the surface elevation, depending on the origin of the dominant radiance signal within the line-of-sight. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Polar Multi-Sensor Aerosol product (PMAp) is based on the synergistic use of three instruments from the Metop platform, GOME-2, AVHRR, and IASI. The retrieval algorithm includes three major steps: a pre-identification of the aerosol class, a selection of the aerosol model, and a calculation of the Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD). This paper provides a detailed description of the PMAp retrieval, which combines information provided by the three instruments. The retrieved AOD is qualitatively evaluated, and a good temporal as well as spatial performance is observed, including for the transition between ocean and land. More quantitatively, the performance is evaluated by comparison to AERONET in situ measurements. Very good consistency is also observed when compared to other space-based data such as MODIS or VIIRS. The paper demonstrates the ability of this first generation of synergistic products to derive reliable AOD, opening the door for the development of synergistic products from the instruments to be embarked on the coming Metop Second Generation platform. PMAp has been operationally distributed in near-real-time since 2014 over ocean, and 2016 over land. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

After successful launch in November 2018 and successful commissioning of Metop-C, all three satellites of the EUMETSAT Polar System (EPS) are in orbit together and operational. EPS is part of the Initial Joint Polar System (IJPS) with the United States (NOAA) and provides the service in the midmorning orbit. The Metop satellites carry a mission payload of sounding and imaging instruments, which allow provision of support to operational meteorology and climate monitoring, which are the main mission objectives for EPS. Applications include numerical weather prediction, atmospheric composition monitoring, and marine meteorology. Climate monitoring is supported through the generation of long time series through the program duration of 20+ years. The payload was developed and contributed by partners, including NOAA, CNES, and ESA. EUMETSAT and ESA developed the space segment in cooperation. The system has proven its value since the first satellite Metop-A, with enhanced products at high reliability for atmospheric sounding, delivered a very strong positive impact on NWP and results beyond expectations for atmospheric composition and chemistry applications. Having multiple satellites in orbit—now three—has enabled enhanced and additional products with increased impact, like atmospheric motion vector products at latitudes not accessible to geostationary observations or increased probability of radio occultations and hence atmospheric soundings with the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) Radio-Occultation Atmospheric Sounder (GRAS) instruments. The paper gives an overview of the system and the embarked payload and discusses the benefits of generated products for applications and services. The conclusions point to the follow-on system, currently under development and assuring continuity for another 20+ years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • Operational spaced-based system for aerosol and cloud determination. • Definition of the Multi-view, Multi-spectral and Multi-polarization concept. • Characterization of the system, on-ground as well as in-orbit. • Ground processing of the Level-1 products. Abstract The 3MI instrument is one of the missions of the EUMETSAT Polar System Second Generation (EPS-SG) program to be launched in 2021. This polarimetric mission has a direct heritage from the POLDER mission, with improved capabilities and is implemented within a fully operational long-term framework. The spectral range was extended from the visible-near-infrared (410–910 nm) to the shortwave-infrared domain (up to 2200 nm). The spatial resolution (4 km at nadir) and the instantaneous swath (2200 × 2200 km²) were also improved compared to previous POLDER instruments. The 3MI concept of the multi-viewing, multi-spectral and multi-polarized Imaging is described, in particular how these 3 pieces of information are acquired together within a single simple instrument concept. Achieving the performance necessary to meet the mission requirements will rely on a comprehensive initial pre-launch characterization and subsequently extensive in-orbit monitoring based on a vicarious calibration strategy. The level 1 products available to the users will be geo-located Stokes vectors on the native viewing geometry (Level 1B) and geo-projected multi-directional and spectral Stokes vectors (Level 1C). Level-2 products will provide geophysical and microphysical parameters for aerosol and clouds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Global Ozone Monitoring Experiment-2 (GOME-2) flies on the Metop series of satellites, the space component of the EUMETSAT Polar System. In this paper we will provide an overview of the instrument design, the on-ground calibration and characterization activities, inflight calibration, and level 0 to 1 data processing. The current status of the level 1 data is presented and points of specific relevance to users are highlighted. Long-term level 1 data consistency is also discussed and plans for future work are outlined. The information contained in this paper summarizes a large number of technical reports and related documents containing information that is not currently available in the published literature. These reports and documents are however made available on the EUMETSAT web pages and readers requiring more details than can be provided in this overview paper will find appropriate references at relevant points in the text. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Global Ozone Monitoring Experiment-2 (GOME-2) flies on the Metop series of satellites, the space component of the EUMETSAT Polar System. In this paper we will provide an overview of the instrument design, the on-ground calibration and characterization activities, inflight calibration, and level 0 to 1 data processing. The current status of the level 1 data is presented and points of specific relevance to users are highlighted. Long-term level 1 data consistency is also discussed and plans for future work are outlined. The information contained in this paper summarizes a large number of technical reports and related documents containing information that is not currently available in the published literature. These reports and documents are however made available on the EUMETSAT web pages and readers requiring more details than can be provided in this overview paper will find appropriate references at relevant points in the text. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]