Why MTG-S1 is a nowcasting game-changer

From an orbit 36 000 km from Earth, the MTG-S1 satellite tv for pc is ready to revolutionise the way in which we forecast extreme climate. Not like the imaging satellites, which full the constellation of the MTG mission, MTG-S1 makes use of its Infrared Sounder to seize knowledge on temperature, humidity and hint gases. Its knowledge is used to generate three-dimensional maps of the environment.

This knowledge will assist to detect and predict quickly evolving and doubtlessly harmful climate techniques. It’ll assist functions to supply extra correct climate warnings, serving to communities put together for storms, alert pilots to areas of invisible turbulence and assist plans to mitigate local weather dangers – finally saving lives and decreasing harm to property and infrastructure.

“This mission will change forecasting, utilizing progressive area expertise to carry us three-dimensional knowledge on the environment and enabling quicker responses to excessive climate,” mentioned Simonetta Cheli, ESA’s Director of Earth Statement Programmes, including, “All through the event of this mission, I’ve been impressed by the dedication and experience proven by the groups throughout ESA and our European companions, and I want to thank everybody concerned for his or her spirit of cooperation. Their laborious work signifies that this mission will contribute to higher forecasting to learn residents.”

1. A brand new dimension for climate forecasting

Till now, Europe’s fleet of geostationary climate satellites has relied completely on imagers. These devices take high-resolution photographs of Earth and are invaluable for monitoring cloud cowl and storm techniques. However imagers present two-dimensional knowledge, displaying what’s taking place on the prime of the environment, however not what lies beneath.

The Infrared Sounder on board MTG-S1 introduces a wholly new functionality by measuring infrared spectra in every of its pixels. Utilizing this info, scientists can detect atmospheric properties akin to temperature and humidity vertically in addition to horizontally. The expertise used – known as imaging Fourier-Remodel Spectrometry – detects the distinctive ‘fingerprints’ created on infrared gentle waves when gases within the environment emit or take in infrared gentle.

“MTG-S1 shifts us from flat photographs to totally three-dimensional views of the environment,” explains Tobias Guggenmoser, MTG-S Lead Payload Engineer at ESA. “By capturing 1700 infrared channels each half-hour, we are able to slice the sky into layers – monitoring temperature, moisture and even hint gases – so forecasters see precisely what’s taking place at every altitude.”

2. Quicker warnings for extreme climate

The time period nowcasting refers to forecasting on brief timescales, from simply minutes up to some hours prematurely. That is important for quickly evolving occasions akin to thunderstorms, tornadoes or flash floods. MTG-S1’s capability to revisit Europe each half-hour and supply a vertical profile of temperature and moisture means forecasters get close to real-time updates on atmospheric circumstances.

The Infrared Sounder can be utilized to establish vertical air actions, together with temperature inversions, the place a heat layer traps cooler air under. Inversions can suppress storm exercise till the inversion collapses, releasing power within the type of heavy downpours or hail. With out vertical knowledge, inversions are invisible to conventional imagers – however they change into clear utilizing MTG-S1’s hyperspectral sounder.

“Some varieties of storms develop in a short time, and the vertical dynamic of the environment performs a central position on this course of,” says James Champion, ESA’s MTG Mission Supervisor. “By observing key markers akin to temperature and wind velocity in three dimensions and monitoring them over time, scientists can detect these storms proper at first of their growth, growing the lead time for climate warnings.”

3. Making skies safer for air visitors

Turbulence is a perennial hazard for air visitors – inflicting each discomfort and hazard for pilots and passengers. Generally the trigger is seen, however someday turbulence happens even throughout clear climate. For instance, turbulence can happen when wind rushes over mountain ranges, pushing air upwards in invisible waves that may journey for lengthy distances. Volcanic ash plumes additionally pose a serious threat for jet engines.

MTG-S1’s vertical profiling of temperature and humidity, mixed with wind estimates, permit meteorologists to pinpoint these hidden hazards.

“Aviation is one an important areas that can profit from the MTG-S1 satellite tv for pc’s knowledge,” notes James. “By offering a three-dimensional image of temperature, wind and humidity that evolves over time, MTG-S1 will assist climate companies establish extra of those turbulent areas and predict their paths extra precisely. For airways and air-traffic controllers, meaning smarter flight planning.”

4. Supporting local weather and the setting

Meteosat satellites have been offering large-scale climate datasets since 1977. Now MTG-S1 will add infrared sounding knowledge to this physique of knowledge, enriching the local weather report. In addition to measuring temperature and humidity at totally different atmospheric ranges, the Infrared Sounder can detect greenhouse gases akin to carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, methane and ozone.

“With MTG-S1, we’re not solely forecasting tomorrow’s storms – we’re additionally constructing the long-term information wanted to trace local weather change,” says James. “Information from the sounder shall be processed by extraordinarily advanced algorithms to supply decision-makers with the details about the atmospheric make-up, enabling them to develop and implement extra refined insurance policies to mitigate in opposition to local weather dangers.”

One impact of local weather change is that it will increase the probability of maximum climate. By bettering nowcasting capabilities, MTG-S1 will assist mitigate that rising hazard.

On World Environment Day, MTG-S1 is a major instance of how space-based observing underpins efforts to supply well timed and correct knowledge on extreme climate, to trace environmental change and monitor air air pollution.

5. Designed for the long run

MTG-S1 will set a brand new commonplace as its Infrared Sounder is among the many most advanced and highly effective hyperspectral sounders ever constructed for area. Figuring out the precise expertise for the mission’s objectives – and making certain it met ESA’s difficult technical requirements – required experience throughout a variety of disciplines.

“The Infrared Sounder might be essentially the most bold instance of this expertise thus far,” says Tobias. “And as a climate satellite tv for pc, it has to function repeatedly with out points.”

He provides, “Within the ESA MTG crew, we’ve individuals with expertise of such a instrument, in addition to consultants on all the things from on-board knowledge processing to precision mechanisms. This enabled us to information the event not simply of the sounder itself, but additionally our industrial companions’ capabilities, thereby laying the inspiration for future generations of satellites.”

The Meteosat Third Era Sounder satellite tv for pc (MTG-S1) shall be launched not sooner than July 2025. It’ll carry the Copernicus Sentinel-4 instrument on board.