Seeing storms before clouds form
The full reading behind my Short: Meteosat-13's Infrared Sounder, Europe's first geostationary weather sounder, is now operational.
The short version
On 13 October 2026, data from the Infrared Sounder on the first Meteosat Third Generation (MTG) Sounder satellite entered operational service, and the satellite took its new name, Meteosat-13 [1]. According to EUMETSAT, it is the first sounder of its kind that Europe has placed in geostationary orbit, and also a first for any global operational weather observation programme [1].
Its measurements of temperature, humidity and trace gases at different heights are meant to support earlier and more precise severe-weather warnings, and air quality forecasts, across Europe [1].
How a sounder works
EUMETSAT says the Infrared Sounder "works on the same principle as a thermal camera". It measures nearly 2,000 infrared wavelengths, which carry signals from different heights and from different constituents of the atmosphere [1]. That lets forecasters build a picture of how warm and humid the air is layer by layer, and track ozone, dust and volcanic ash [1].
Watch the Short
About this page
The Short uses ESA artist's views of the Meteosat Third Generation satellites (CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO, cropped with text added) and my own simple animations, which are illustrations, not real data. This page is general science news.
Why it matters
- Earlier signs of storms. EUMETSAT Director-General Phil Evans: "National weather services across EUMETSAT Member States can now use these data to detect signs of atmospheric instability even before clouds begin to form." [1]
- A four-dimensional view. Together with the imaging and lightning sensors on the MTG imager satellites, Evans says the data "give a true four-dimensional view of the atmosphere", letting forecasters follow a storm over Europe from early instability through to lightning and precipitation [1].
- Severe weather. Evans says the data "will enhance short-range forecasts of flash floods, violent storms, hail and dangerous winds" [1].
- Forecast models. Tony McNally of the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts said the imager-plus-sounder combination, used in forecast models, "allows us to provide more accurate predictions and better warnings of severe weather" [1].
The bigger system, and what's still to come
- Two kinds of satellite. Meteosat-13 joins the imager satellite Meteosat-12 in providing operational data. A second imager, MTG-I2, is being commissioned and will scan Europe every 2.5 minutes [1].
- Who built it. Developed by EUMETSAT and ESA, built by European industry led by Thales Alenia Space, with OHB responsible for the sounder satellite. EUMETSAT will operate it [1].
- Air quality next. A second instrument on Meteosat-13 serves the EU's Copernicus Sentinel-4 air quality mission, which is expected to start delivering operational data in 2027 [1].
- What it is not: the sounder improves the information forecasters have; it does not by itself guarantee that every storm is predicted. Warnings still depend on forecasters and models.
Full narration (transcript)
What if forecasters could spot a storm brewing before the clouds even form? On the 13th of October, data from Europe's new weather satellite, Meteosat-13, entered operational service. Its Infrared Sounder is the first of its kind Europe has put in geostationary orbit. It works like a thermal camera, measuring nearly 2,000 infrared wavelengths. Different wavelengths reveal different heights. Every thirty minutes, it maps how warm and humid the air is, layer by layer, over Europe. It also tracks ozone, dust and volcanic ash. EUMETSAT says forecasters can now detect signs of atmospheric instability even before clouds begin to form. Combined with imaging and lightning sensors on other satellites, that gives a four-dimensional view, following a storm from early instability to lightning and rain. The goal is earlier, more detailed warnings of flash floods, violent storms, hail and dangerous winds.
Sources
- [1] EUMETSAT (13 Oct 2026). "Europe's first geostationary sounder enters service to track storms in four dimensions." eumetsat.int
- [2] Images: ESA/Mlabspace, "MTG-I and MTG-S" and "Meteosat Third Generation weather satellites", CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO; in the Short they are cropped, zoomed and overlaid with text. File 1 · File 2
Credits
Satellite artist's views: ESA/Mlabspace, CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (modified). Animations: my own illustrations, not real data, and not endorsed by ESA or EUMETSAT.