New weather satellite reveals spectacular images of Earth

release The Meteosat 3rd Generation Imager 1 (MTG-I1) aboard an Ariane 5 rocket on December 13, 2022 is the first of a new generation of satellites set to revolutionize weather forecasting in Europe. . ESA and Eumetsat are proud to jointly release the next generation of new imagery.

Captured by the satellite’s Flexible Coupling Imager on March 18, 2023, the image shows cloud cover over much of Northern and Western Europe and Scandinavia, with relatively clear skies over Italy and the Western Balkans. indicates that

Simonetta Cheli, Director of ESA’s Earth Observation Program, said: The level of detail that MTG-I1’s images reveal, previously unattainable in Europe and Africa from geostationary orbit, provides a deeper understanding of our planet and the weather systems that form it. increase.

“This image represents not only what can be achieved with European expertise, but our determination to ensure that the benefits of new technologies are felt in Europe and beyond.”

Instruments on board Meteosat 3rd generation weather satellites produce images at much higher resolution and more frequently than Meteosat 2nd generation satellites.

Details such as cloud eddies in the Canary Islands, snow cover in the Alps, and underwater sediments along the Italian coast are visible in the image. These details are not clearly visible, or not visible at all, in images from current second-generation spacecraft instruments.

The new images show more detail of the high-latitude cloud structure. This will allow weather forecasters to more accurately monitor the development of rapidly developing severe weather in the region.

Eumetsat Director Phil Evans added:

“It may sound strange to get excited about a cloudy day in most of Europe. The additional detail provided, coupled with the fact that the images are produced more frequently, means that forecasters will be able to detect and predict severe weather more accurately and quickly.”

“The high resolution and frequent repeating cycles of the flexible composite imager will greatly help the World Meteorological Organization community to improve severe weather forecasting, long-term climate monitoring, marine applications and agro-meteorology, and will be of great importance to the world. will make a contribution. Early warning for everyone Especially on the African continent,” added Natalia Donoho, Head of Space Systems and Applications at WMO’s World Meteorological Organization.

MTG-I1 is currently undergoing a 12-month commissioning phase. Flexible Composite Imager and the lightning imager, are switched on and the data they produce is calibrated. Data from the satellite will be delivered to the European Meteorological Service by the end of 2023 and will be operational in weather forecasting.

We created this first imagery as a preview of what’s coming this year using the ground segment infrastructure required to process images on a regular basis. Once the system is fully operational, he will create an image of the entire Earth every 10 minutes.

The MTG satellite is being built by a large consortium of European industry led by Thales Alenia Space in collaboration with OHB. The innovative Lightning Imager was developed by Leonardo in Italy and Telespazio provides launch and orbital services for his Eumetsat.

The innovative infrared sounder is now undergoing final performance evaluations before being delivered to Bremen, Germany for MTG-S satellite integration. The satellite is expected to be completed by mid-2024 and launched by the end of the year.

ESA’s Meteosat Program Manager, Paul Blythe, commented: On the one hand, he supports the operations and data analysis of the first satellites in orbit, but on the other hand, the all-new He is moving forward to ensure the availability and performance of the MTG Sounding satellites.

“The first results of MTG-I1 are very exciting for those who have been working on this program, and will be a great impetus for completing the full MTG constellation by 2026.”