Weather satellites

Enhancing weather forecasts with satellites

Reliable weather forecasts are key to our safety and economy.

By providing timely warnings of storms, heat waves and disasters, accurate weather forecasts can help save lives and protect property and infrastructure. Over one third of Europe’s economy is weather- sensitive. This is particularly true for agriculture, energy and transportation.

As extreme weather events become more frequent and severe, the need for high-resolution weather and climate data is growing. Satellites play a key role by providing continuous, real-time data covering variables such as temperature, humidity, and wind speed. This helps meteorologists to track weather systems and make more accurate predictions.

Airbus is a long-time partner of the Meteorological Operational Satellite Programme (MetOp), a collaboration between the European Space Agency (ESA) and the European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT), providing both spacecraft and instruments.

Airbus also built Aeolus, the first spacecraft capable of performing global wind-component profile observations; and SEVIRI, the instrument for Meteosat Second Generation.

Discover more about Aeolus

Taking weather forecasting to the next level

MetOp: Europe’s first operational polar-orbiting satellites

The Meteorological Operational Satellite Programme (MetOp) consists of three European polar-orbiting satellites which provide data services to monitor the climate and improve weather forecasts.

MetOp represents the European contribution to a new cooperation between EUMETSAT, ESA, France’s space agency CNES, and the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

The MetOp mission has radically improved the accuracy of weather forecasts, including extending short-term forecasts by one day. By operating simultaneously, its satellites provide the meteorological community with more data.

MetOp also measures ocean surface winds, observes sea ice distribution, and monitors the ozone layer in the stratosphere. Its satellites relay meteorological measurements collected by boats, buoys and research stations. MetOp-A and B feature a receiver to relay signals sent by persons in distress.

MetOp’s multiple instruments make for a versatile system Airbus was responsible for building two: the Microwave Humidity Sounder (MHS), and the Advanced Scatterometer (ASCAT).

After 15 years of successful operation, MetOp-A was retired in 2021. Equipped with a set of novel and advanced instruments as well as proven sensors, MetOp-A was the most influential weather satellite of its generation.

MetOp-B and MetOp-C will be used until the second generation of MetOp satellites – MetOp-SG - is operational.

Side by side - MetOp 2nd Gen satellites 02

MetOp Second Generation: the future of weather forecasting

Metop-SG consists of two series of satellites. The Satellite A series focuses on optical instruments (including Sentinel-5) and atmospheric sounders, while the Satellite B series will carry microwave instruments.

With the first launches planned for 2025-2026, MetOp-SG will further improve weather forecasting and climate research and ensure seamless continuity with the current MetOp fleet. Data continuity is essential for weather forecasting and climate monitoring.

Airbus-built instruments onboard MetOp-SG satellite A series

IASI-NG: Infrared Atmospheric Sounding Interferometer – New Generation

IASI-NG will determine temperature and water vapour profiles in the atmosphere, record ocean surface and land temperatures, and measure greenhouse gases, clouds, aerosols, ozone, and trace gases.

Read about weather monitoring

Picture: IASI-NG integration operations - Copyright Airbus

METImage: Multi-spectral Imaging Radiometer

METImage will provide detailed information on clouds, wind, aerosols and surface properties which are essential for meteorological and climate applications.

MWS: MicroWave Sounder

MWS will provide 3D maps of atmospheric temperature and humidity by observing in the microwave frequencies range. It will also make observations of clouds, snow, sea ice, and surface phenomena.

Airbus-built instruments onboard MetOp-SG satellite B series

The Scatterometer (SCA): a real aperture pulsed imaging radar

The SCA will be used to monitor ocean winds and continental ice sheets, and to check land surface soil moisture – a key driver of water and heat fluxes between the ground and the atmosphere.

ICI: Ice Cloud Imager Instrument

For the first time, the ICI will provide images of ice clouds, which impact the Earth’s radiation budget, although they have so far not been taken into account.

MWI: MicroWave Imager

MWI will provide images of precipitation and clouds, and profiles of water vapour for operational meteorology, climate applications, oceanography, and sea ice, snow, and land surface observations.

Aeolus, the wind mission

Built by Airbus, Aeolus was Europe’s wind sensing satellite and the first spacecraft to provide daily, near-real-time observations of global wind component profiles.

During its five-year mission, Aeolus provided reliable wind-profile information on a global scale. Such data is needed by meteorologists to continuously improve the accuracy of weather forecasts, and helps climatologists to better understand the dynamics of the Earth’s atmosphere.

Discover more about Aeolus at Airbus

SEVIRI, Meteosat Second Generation’s High Resolution Radiometer

Designed and built by Airbus, SEVIRI is capable of observing the Earth in 12 spectral channels providing precise data throughout the atmosphere.

The data provided by SEVIRI is used in numerical weather forecasting models and in atmospheric and environmental research. Many necessary parameters to understand our environment are visible: the temperature of the surface and atmosphere, atmospheric water vapour content, cloud formations, storms, hurricanes, heavy rain and fog.