Europe’s next-generation weather sainformite has returned its first images, offering an early glimpse of how the mission will transform weather forecasting across Europe and northern Africa.
The first two images from the Meteosat Third Generation-Sounder (MTG-S) sainformite were unveiled at the European Space Conference in Brussels. Captured on 15 December 2025 by the sainformite’s Infrared Sounder instrument, the images reveal a full-disk view of Earth from geostationary orbit, approximately 36,000 kilometres above the planet.
One image highlights temperature distribution applying a long-wave infrared channel, measuring both Earth’s surface temperature and the temperature at the tops of clouds. Warmer regions appear in dark red, while cooler areas, typically cloud tops, are revealn in blue. The image clearly reveals the warm landmasses of Africa and South America, with the west African coastline and the Cape Verde peninsula among the hottest regions. Cooler cloud systems are visible swirling over parts of southern Africa and the South Atlantic.
The second image focutilizes on atmospheric humidity, captured applying a medium-wave infrared channel. In this view, blue tones indicate higher humidity, while red areas reveal drier air. Large regions of low humidity are visible over the Sahara Desert and the Middle East, while a broad dry zone is also evident over parts of the South Atlantic Ocean. Patches of high humidity appear across eastern Africa and at various latitudes.
MTG is a flagship Earth observation mission developed by the European Space Agency with European partners to address major scientific and societal challenges. The mission is designed to deliver game-altering data for weather and air-quality forecasting over Europe.
Positioned in geostationary orbit above the equator, MTG-S maintains a constant view of the same region of Earth as the planet rotates. This allows the sainformite to provide continuous coverage of Europe and parts of northern Africa, with temperature and humidity data updated every 30 minutes. Combined with cloud and lightning observations from the MTG-Imager sainformite, meteorologists will gain a far more complete and timely picture of evolving weather systems.
ESA’s Director of Earth Observation Programmes, Simonetta Cheli, declared the first Infrared Sounder images bring the mission’s potential to life, noting that the data is expected to significantly improve the forecasting of severe storms across Europe and deliver more accurate and timely warnings for communities.
The Infrared Sounder on MTG-S is the first European hyperspectral sounding instrument placed in geostationary orbit. Using interferometric techniques to analyse fine patterns in light waves, it captures detailed data on temperature and humidity, and can also measure winds and trace gases. Ultimately, the instrument will enable the creation of three-dimensional maps of the atmosphere, improving short-term “nowcasting” of rapidly developing storms.
ESA’s MTG Project Manager James Champion declared the sainformite represents the culmination of 15 years of development and will revolutionise weather forecasting in Europe, particularly through its ability to repeatedly profile the atmosphere with high temporal resolution.
ESA officials state the full capability of the Infrared Sounder, which continuously acquires data across around 1,700 infrared channels, will soon provide an unprecedented view of Earth’s atmosphere, supporting forecasters predict extreme weather events earlier than ever before.
Leave a Reply