Observation of Weather and Climate with the Meteosat and Metop Satellites

[ABSTRACT]The paper provides an overview of the meteorological satellite systems operated by EUMETSA T: The first generation of European geostationary Meteosat satellites started with the launch ofMeteosat-1 in 1977 under the responsibility of ESA (European Space Agency). A series of seven satellites provided a continuous service acquiring half-hourly images in three spectral bands. Meteosat-7 is now still used for observing the Indian Ocean area. The advent of the first Meteosat Second Generation (MSG) satellite in 2002, renamed to Meteosat-8 with the start of operations, marked a major step forward in terms of observing capability. MSG satellites take images in twelve spectral channels every 15 minutes. The operational products derived from MSG data provide essential information for numerical weather prediction (NWP) and N owcasting. The MSG system is now a dual satellite system with Meteosat-9 as prime satellite and Meteosat-8 providing rapid imaging services. Two more MSG satellites will be launched before the next generation (Meteosat Third Generation: MTG). The first polar orbiting meteorological satellite of EUMETSAT, named Metop-A, was launched in October 2006. Metop provides advanced observations of temperature and humidity profiles, wind, ozone and trace gases. The instrumentation is based on a continuity of known instruments and novel techniques. Notable are the hyperspectral thermal infrared observations with IASI (Infrared Atmospheric Sounding Interferometer) which also plays a key role for the observation of climate parameters and as reference instrument for satellite intercalibration . Two more Metop satellites are scheduled for launch.