Enhanced surveillance of severe weather events by European satellite
New Satellite Launched to Improve European Weather Forecasting
A new satellite, MetOp-SGA1, has been successfully launched from France's Kourou space base in French Guyana, marking a significant step forward in improving weather forecasting and early warnings for extreme weather events in Europe.
MetOp-SGA1 is part of the US-led Joint Polar System and is Europe's first contribution to this programme. The satellite is a four-tonne marvel, carrying six advanced monitoring instruments that are twice as precise as EUMETSAT's existing satellite, IASI.
The satellite will be put into an 800 kilometre (500 mile) high orbit. Once in orbit, it will provide high-resolution, precise observational data from these six instruments, significantly improving short- and medium-term weather models.
One of the key advantages of MetOp-SGA1 is its expanded observational data for data assimilation into weather models. This improvement will lead to a better forecast quality and accuracy, especially for short to medium time scales (up to 10 days ahead).
The satellite's multispectral camera (METimage) will provide detailed cloud analysis, including height, composition, and droplet size. This data will enhance the understanding and representation of clouds in forecasts, which is vital for predicting extreme weather developments.
MetOp-SGA1 will also monitor ocean and land temperatures, water vapour, greenhouse gases, desert dust, and cloud cover. These critical parameters will help in anticipating extreme weather conditions and climate variability.
The data from MetOp-SGA1 is expected to aid various professions such as meteorologists, farmers, grid operators, pilots, sailors, and others in their respective fields. For instance, farmers will be able to protect their crops better, while grid operators can manage energy supply more efficiently. The transportation sectors, including aviation and maritime navigation, will also benefit from more precise weather data.
Moreover, the high-quality data on Earth system processes provided by MetOp-SGA1 will facilitate improved climate models and national and municipal adaptation strategies, supporting long-term resilience against climate change effects.
Phil Evans, EUMETSAT director-general, stated that the launch of MetOp-SGA1 will provide national weather services with sharper tools to save lives, protect property, and build resilience against the climate crisis. He further added that the satellite will provide earlier warnings for extreme weather, potentially reducing economic losses from climate-related disasters.
The Ariane company handled the launch of MetOp-SGA1, which was the third by Ariane 6 since its inaugural flight in July last year. Ariane 6 aims to carry out nine or 10 launches each year, with 32 launches planned from Kourou in the coming years.
In conclusion, MetOp-SGA1, with its state-of-the-art instruments and expanded scope of meteorological data from a polar orbit, will deliver sharper tools for early detection and better prediction of extreme weather events across Europe. This will contribute to saving lives and reducing economic losses from climate-related disasters.
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