Lessons on Satellite Meteorology

Part I : General Introduction

Short history

Geo versus polar satellite

Visible images

Infrared images

Water vapour images

EUMETSAT

Meteosat Seconde Generation

Metop

The CAFs and the SAFs

The future (MTG, Post-EPS, NPOESS)

Objective of the trainings and programme of the day

Short History

Sputnik-1 on 4 Oct. 1957

1st April 1960: TIROS-1

4th Oct.1975 : GOES-1

23th Nov. 1979 : launch of Meteosat-1

Creation of EUMETSAT

Launch of Meteosat-8 (MSG-1)

Launch of Metop-A

(...)

2017? : Meteosat Third Generation

Geostationary and polar satellites

Altitude : +/- 36000 km

Continuous view → nowcasting

Altitude : +/- 800 km

Global view in +/- 12h → data assimilation → NWP

Visible imagery

Day only

Reflection of solar radiation

Infrared imagery

Tempearture of the object

Day and night

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Water vapour imagery

Around 6 – 7 µm

Since

Emissions from water vapour low in the atmosphere will not normally escape to space. If the upper troposhpere is moist, the radiation reaching the satellite will mostly originate from this (cold) region and be displayed in white shades, following the IR imagery colour convention. Only if the upper atmosphere is dry will will radiation originate from water vapour at warmer, mid-troposheric levels and be displayed in darker shades on the image. In normally moist atmosphere , most of the WV radiation recieved by the satellite originates in the 300-600 hPa layer, but when the air is dry some radiation may come from layers as low as 800hPa.

Consider a bright and a dark area in a water vapour image: less radiance may:   ... correspond to atmospheric objects cooler than in the dark area ... indicate that there is more water vapour present in the bright area so that the satellite senses a higher, and therefore colder, level. In either case, the relative humidity is likely to be higher in bright areas than in dark areas. Bright and dark areas may also indicate rising and sinking motions, respectively.

EUMETSAT

26 members states

Created in 1985

Members states contributions 2006:

Total : 227 millions euros

Belgium = 6.1 millions euros

Note: ECMWF contributions 2006

Total : +/- 45 millions euros

Belgium : +/- 1.3 millions euros

Meteosat Seconde Generation

(see separate power-points)

12 channels

4 satellites: Meteosat-8, -9,-10, -11

SEVIRI instrument with 12 channels

Repeat cycle of 15'

Metop satellites

First EUMETSAT polar satellite

Collaboration with NOAA (JPS)

Metop-A launched 2005

Metop-B to be launch 2012

The CAF and the SAFs

CAF = Central Application Facility (MPEF)

- core meteorological products

SAFs = Satellite Application Facility

- ozone SAF

- land SAF

- Nowcasting SAF (see afternoon presentations)

- climate SAF

- Hydrology SAF

Future

Meteosat Third Generation

Imager

sounder

Post-EPS satellite

NOAA: GOES-R , NPP (VIIRS imager), NPOESS

EUROPE

INDIAN OCEAN

Objectives of the training

- Advantages and limitations of the satellite observations

- Physical basis involved

- Get informed of the current possibilities

- Practical implementation at RMIB/in Hawk

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