Space, environment & diplomacy

EUMETSAT announced on 9 January 2025, that it would hold Information Days in Chisinau and Podgorica on 26-27 March and 7-8 April, respectively. While Information Days are held every two years, the 2025 events are important due to the unfolding 3rd generation Meteosat rollout.

EUMETSAT Shares Advanced Weather Data

In Autumn 2024, EUMETSAT began distributing operational data from its newest Meteosat satellite’s Flexible Combined Imager (FCI) to weather forecasters across Europe and beyond.

The distribution marks a turning point in two decades of dedication to scientific, technological, and engineering advancements.

The Instrument’s Capabilities

The FCI, which operates on the Meteosat Third Generation – Imager 1 (MTG-I1), generates more frequent and higher-resolution images compared to the imager on the older Meteosat geostationary satellites.

Currently, the data shared with meteorological services in EUMETSAT’s member states and other users is pre-operational. This means that while the data quality is nearing operational standards, some limitations in quality and stability still exist.

Overcoming Technical Challenges

“The Flexible Combined Imager experienced a serious anomaly during the commissioning phase of MTG-I1, which has delayed the release of the data longer than we had anticipated,” said EUMETSAT Director-General, Phil Evans.

“A lot of hard work and ingenuity went into finding a solution. We are now confident of achieving the quality and utility of the data from this instrument, which will make a significant impact on weather forecasting accuracy in Europe and Africa.”

Improved Imaging

The Flexible Combined Imager captures images of Europe and Africa in 16 channels every 10 minutes. In contrast, the SEVIRI instrument on Meteosat Second Generation satellites captures images of the same view in 12 channels every 15 minutes.

Importantly, FCI images offer more detail than SEVIRI, and their increased frequency will enable forecasters to detect and predict severe weather events more accurately and swiftly.

Dissemination of Level 1 Data

Currently, “level 1” data are being shared. These Level 1 data consist of calibrated radiances that the instrument has detected, geolocated on a reference grid, and are directly usable by national meteorological and hydrological services.

Operational Control

MTG-I1 is operated by EUMETSAT from its headquarters in Darmstadt, Germany. The European Space Agency (ESA) procured the satellite for European industry, meeting the requirements established by EUMETSAT in consultation with meteorological services in its member states.