Latest news with #MetopSecondGeneration
UPI
3 days ago
- Science
- UPI
Europe Ariane 6 rocket launches a weather satellite
Europe's Ariane 6, the successor to the Ariane 5 seen here, launched a weather and climate satellite to orbit on Tuesday night. NASA File Photo by Bill Ingalls/UPI | License Photo Aug. 13 (UPI) -- Europe's Ariane 6 rocket sent a weather and climate satellite to orbit on Tuesday night. The Ariane 6 took off at 8:37 p.m. EDT from Europe's Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana, in its third-ever launch, carrying the Metop-SGA1. "The mission as a whole not only ensures the continued delivery of global observations from polar orbit for weather forecasting and climate analysis for more than 20 years, but also offers enhanced accuracy and resolution compared to the original MetOp mission -- along with new measurement capabilities to expand its scientific reach," The European Space Agency posted on its website. The Metop-SGA1 will use six onboard instruments to gather an assortment of weather and climate data, across 7.5 years. It will eventually be joined by five other satellites to form the Metop Second Generation constellation. "The satellite will take global observation of weather and climate from a polar orbit to a new level, providing high-resolution observations of temperature, precipitation, clouds, winds, sea ice, aerosols, pollution, soil moisture, volcanic dust and a multitude of other parameters," according to Arianespace representatives. The liftoff was the 355th for Arianespace and the company's EUMETSAT 21st meteorological satellite to be sent to space.
The Independent
3 days ago
- Climate
- The Independent
New satellites in space to ‘save lives' by giving early warnings on heatwaves and extreme weather
A series of satellites are set to be launched into space to give early warnings of extreme weather and potentially save lives, experts have said. The project hopes to improve short-range and long-term forecasts, which will also help scientists monitor increasingly extreme weather across the world. The Metop Second Generation project aims to make weather forecasting more accurate by providing more detailed information for prediction models which will feed into Met Office data. Its first satellite, Metop-SG A1, will be launched from French Guiana on Wednesday and start collecting data on weather patterns next year. The European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (EUMetSat) and the European Space Agency are leading the project, which will see six satellites sent into a low-earth orbit. Phil Evans, director general of EUMetSat, said the new satellites would help to save lives by predicting increasingly extreme weather before it happens. He said: 'Extreme weather has cost Europe hundreds of billions of euros and tens of thousands of lives over the past 40 years — storms like Boris, Daniel and Hans, record heatwaves and fierce wildfires are just the latest reminders. 'The launch of Metop-SG A1 is a major step forward in giving national weather services in our member states sharper tools to save lives, protect property and build resilience against the climate crisis.' Once in use, the satellites could see improved forecasts for up to 10 days ahead in Europe and worldwide. The data can also help short-range forecasts and enable experts to spot tell-tale signs of early storm development and other high-impact weather events, especially those at higher latitudes. On the satellite will be a tracker called the Copernicus Sentinel 5 mission, which will primarily be used for monitoring air quality and long-term climate monitoring. The satellite will station itself about 800km above the Earth and complete one full orbit every 100 minutes, passing close to the north and south poles – enabling it to take images of the entire globe over the course of the day. As well as imaging, the satellite will use other equipment like sounders in order to collect data on temperature, precipitation, clouds, winds, pollution and other factors to predict weather. This information will be fed back to stations such as the newly-installed satellite tracking dish at the Met Office headquarters in Exeter. This will be 'absolutely vital' for weather forecasters, said Simon Keogh, head of space applications at the Met Office. He said: 'We know how important satellite data is for forecast accuracy, with around a quarter of existing accuracy coming from this source. 'The next generation of these satellites is important not only for maintaining existing accuracy as old systems go offline, but also for enhancing observations for the next generation of weather forecasts. 'This project is absolutely vital as we make sure we can continue to deliver more accurate forecasts for the next five days and beyond.' UK science minister Lord Vallance said: 'Our weather is becoming more extreme and more unpredictable. This launch is the latest result of the UK investing with European partners to bolster weather predictions so we can keep up with our changing climate. 'Harnessing the world-class insights from this satellite will improve our ability to predict high-impact weather events even earlier. This will protect our infrastructure, our economy and save lives, keeping our plan for change on track.' On Tuesday, the fourth heatwave of the summer was announced, with organisations issuing amber health warnings and a possible risk to life from the high temperatures. The world experienced its third-warmest July on record this year, experts said, with heat and deadly floods throughout the month.
Powys County Times
4 days ago
- Climate
- Powys County Times
Satellites project could help ‘save lives' and give extreme weather warnings
A series of satellites are set to be launched into space over the next 15 years to help 'save lives' and give early warning of increasingly extreme weather, experts have said. The Metop Second Generation project aims to make weather forecasting more accurate by providing more detailed information for prediction models which will feed into Met Office data. The first satellite, Metop-SG A1, will be launched from French Guiana on Wednesday and start collecting data on weather patterns next year. The European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (EUMetSat) and the European Space Agency are leading the project, which will see six satellites sent into a low-earth orbit. The project hopes to improve short-range and long-term forecasts, which will also help scientists monitor increasingly extreme weather across the world. It's #MetopSGA1 LAUNCH DAY! 🚀 Teams at the European Spaceport in Kourou are making final preparations for lift off at 21:37 local time (00:37 UTC, 02:37 CEST on August 13). 🛰️ Stay tuned with us for updates – night owls, watch the action live here: — EUMETSAT (@eumetsat) August 12, 2025 Phil Evans, director general of EUMetSat, said the new satellites would help to save lives by predicting increasingly extreme weather before it happens. He said: 'Extreme weather has cost Europe hundreds of billions of euros and tens of thousands of lives over the past 40 years — storms like Boris, Daniel and Hans, record heatwaves and fierce wildfires are just the latest reminders. 'The launch of Metop-SG A1 is a major step forward in giving national weather services in our member states sharper tools to save lives, protect property and build resilience against the climate crisis.' Once in use, the satellites could see improved forecasts for up to 10 days ahead in Europe and worldwide. The data can also help short-range forecasts and enable experts to spot tell-tale signs of early storm development and other high-impact weather events, especially those at higher latitudes. On the satellite will be a tracker called the Copernicus Sentinel 5 mission, which will primarily be used for monitoring air quality and long-term climate monitoring. The satellite will station itself about 800km above the Earth and complete one full orbit every 100 minutes, passing close to the north and south poles – enabling it to take images of the entire globe over the course of the day. As well as imaging, the satellite will use other equipment like sounders in order to collect data on temperature, precipitation, clouds, winds, pollution and other factors to predict weather. 🤝There they stand. 📷First views of #Ariane6 on the launch pad.🚀 Flight #VA264 will take Metop-SG-A1 and Copernicus Sentinel-5 to orbit✅Launch readiness review: GO☁️Weather looks good📅Liftoff 13 August 02:37 CEST🔴Watch live: — ESA Space Transport (@ESA_transport) August 12, 2025 This information will be fed back to stations such as the newly-installed satellite tracking dish at the Met Office headquarters in Exeter. This will be 'absolutely vital' for weather forecasters, said Simon Keogh, head of space applications at the Met Office. He said: 'We know how important satellite data is for forecast accuracy, with around a quarter of existing accuracy coming from this source. 'The next generation of these satellites is important not only for maintaining existing accuracy as old systems go offline, but also for enhancing observations for the next generation of weather forecasts. 'This project is absolutely vital as we make sure we can continue to deliver more accurate forecasts for the next five days and beyond.' UK science minister Lord Vallance said: 'Our weather is becoming more extreme and more unpredictable. This launch is the latest result of the UK investing with European partners to bolster weather predictions so we can keep up with our changing climate. 'Harnessing the world-class insights from this satellite will improve our ability to predict high-impact weather events even earlier. This will protect our infrastructure, our economy and save lives, keeping our plan for change on track.' On Tuesday, the fourth heatwave of the summer was announced, with organisations issuing amber health warnings and a possible risk to life from the high temperatures. The world experienced its third-warmest July on record this year, experts said, with heat and deadly floods throughout the month.
South Wales Argus
4 days ago
- Climate
- South Wales Argus
Satellites project could help ‘save lives' and give extreme weather warnings
The Metop Second Generation project aims to make weather forecasting more accurate by providing more detailed information for prediction models which will feed into Met Office data. The first satellite, Metop-SG A1, will be launched from French Guiana on Wednesday and start collecting data on weather patterns next year. The European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (EUMetSat) and the European Space Agency are leading the project, which will see six satellites sent into a low-earth orbit. The project hopes to improve short-range and long-term forecasts, which will also help scientists monitor increasingly extreme weather across the world. It's #MetopSGA1 LAUNCH DAY! 🚀 Teams at the European Spaceport in Kourou are making final preparations for lift off at 21:37 local time (00:37 UTC, 02:37 CEST on August 13). 🛰️ Stay tuned with us for updates – night owls, watch the action live here: — EUMETSAT (@eumetsat) August 12, 2025 Phil Evans, director general of EUMetSat, said the new satellites would help to save lives by predicting increasingly extreme weather before it happens. He said: 'Extreme weather has cost Europe hundreds of billions of euros and tens of thousands of lives over the past 40 years — storms like Boris, Daniel and Hans, record heatwaves and fierce wildfires are just the latest reminders. 'The launch of Metop-SG A1 is a major step forward in giving national weather services in our member states sharper tools to save lives, protect property and build resilience against the climate crisis.' Once in use, the satellites could see improved forecasts for up to 10 days ahead in Europe and worldwide. The data can also help short-range forecasts and enable experts to spot tell-tale signs of early storm development and other high-impact weather events, especially those at higher latitudes. On the satellite will be a tracker called the Copernicus Sentinel 5 mission, which will primarily be used for monitoring air quality and long-term climate monitoring. The satellite will station itself about 800km above the Earth and complete one full orbit every 100 minutes, passing close to the north and south poles – enabling it to take images of the entire globe over the course of the day. As well as imaging, the satellite will use other equipment like sounders in order to collect data on temperature, precipitation, clouds, winds, pollution and other factors to predict weather. 🤝There they stand. 📷First views of #Ariane6 on the launch pad.🚀 Flight #VA264 will take Metop-SG-A1 and Copernicus Sentinel-5 to orbit✅Launch readiness review: GO☁️Weather looks good📅Liftoff 13 August 02:37 CEST🔴Watch live: — ESA Space Transport (@ESA_transport) August 12, 2025 This information will be fed back to stations such as the newly-installed satellite tracking dish at the Met Office headquarters in Exeter. This will be 'absolutely vital' for weather forecasters, said Simon Keogh, head of space applications at the Met Office. He said: 'We know how important satellite data is for forecast accuracy, with around a quarter of existing accuracy coming from this source. 'The next generation of these satellites is important not only for maintaining existing accuracy as old systems go offline, but also for enhancing observations for the next generation of weather forecasts. 'This project is absolutely vital as we make sure we can continue to deliver more accurate forecasts for the next five days and beyond.' UK science minister Lord Vallance said: 'Our weather is becoming more extreme and more unpredictable. This launch is the latest result of the UK investing with European partners to bolster weather predictions so we can keep up with our changing climate. 'Harnessing the world-class insights from this satellite will improve our ability to predict high-impact weather events even earlier. This will protect our infrastructure, our economy and save lives, keeping our plan for change on track.' On Tuesday, the fourth heatwave of the summer was announced, with organisations issuing amber health warnings and a possible risk to life from the high temperatures. The world experienced its third-warmest July on record this year, experts said, with heat and deadly floods throughout the month.
Rhyl Journal
4 days ago
- Climate
- Rhyl Journal
Satellites project could help ‘save lives' and give extreme weather warnings
The Metop Second Generation project aims to make weather forecasting more accurate by providing more detailed information for prediction models which will feed into Met Office data. The first satellite, Metop-SG A1, will be launched from French Guiana on Wednesday and start collecting data on weather patterns next year. The European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (EUMetSat) and the European Space Agency are leading the project, which will see six satellites sent into a low-earth orbit. The project hopes to improve short-range and long-term forecasts, which will also help scientists monitor increasingly extreme weather across the world. It's #MetopSGA1 LAUNCH DAY! 🚀 Teams at the European Spaceport in Kourou are making final preparations for lift off at 21:37 local time (00:37 UTC, 02:37 CEST on August 13). 🛰️ Stay tuned with us for updates – night owls, watch the action live here: — EUMETSAT (@eumetsat) August 12, 2025 Phil Evans, director general of EUMetSat, said the new satellites would help to save lives by predicting increasingly extreme weather before it happens. He said: 'Extreme weather has cost Europe hundreds of billions of euros and tens of thousands of lives over the past 40 years — storms like Boris, Daniel and Hans, record heatwaves and fierce wildfires are just the latest reminders. 'The launch of Metop-SG A1 is a major step forward in giving national weather services in our member states sharper tools to save lives, protect property and build resilience against the climate crisis.' Once in use, the satellites could see improved forecasts for up to 10 days ahead in Europe and worldwide. The data can also help short-range forecasts and enable experts to spot tell-tale signs of early storm development and other high-impact weather events, especially those at higher latitudes. On the satellite will be a tracker called the Copernicus Sentinel 5 mission, which will primarily be used for monitoring air quality and long-term climate monitoring. The satellite will station itself about 800km above the Earth and complete one full orbit every 100 minutes, passing close to the north and south poles – enabling it to take images of the entire globe over the course of the day. As well as imaging, the satellite will use other equipment like sounders in order to collect data on temperature, precipitation, clouds, winds, pollution and other factors to predict weather. 🤝There they stand. 📷First views of #Ariane6 on the launch pad.🚀 Flight #VA264 will take Metop-SG-A1 and Copernicus Sentinel-5 to orbit✅Launch readiness review: GO☁️Weather looks good📅Liftoff 13 August 02:37 CEST🔴Watch live: — ESA Space Transport (@ESA_transport) August 12, 2025 This information will be fed back to stations such as the newly-installed satellite tracking dish at the Met Office headquarters in Exeter. This will be 'absolutely vital' for weather forecasters, said Simon Keogh, head of space applications at the Met Office. He said: 'We know how important satellite data is for forecast accuracy, with around a quarter of existing accuracy coming from this source. 'The next generation of these satellites is important not only for maintaining existing accuracy as old systems go offline, but also for enhancing observations for the next generation of weather forecasts. 'This project is absolutely vital as we make sure we can continue to deliver more accurate forecasts for the next five days and beyond.' UK science minister Lord Vallance said: 'Our weather is becoming more extreme and more unpredictable. This launch is the latest result of the UK investing with European partners to bolster weather predictions so we can keep up with our changing climate. 'Harnessing the world-class insights from this satellite will improve our ability to predict high-impact weather events even earlier. This will protect our infrastructure, our economy and save lives, keeping our plan for change on track.' On Tuesday, the fourth heatwave of the summer was announced, with organisations issuing amber health warnings and a possible risk to life from the high temperatures. The world experienced its third-warmest July on record this year, experts said, with heat and deadly floods throughout the month.
