WETENSCHAP
Europae lanceert nieuwe weersatellieten
December 13, 2022 - The first of a new generation of satellites designed to revolutionise weather forecasting in Europe is launched.
The €4.3bn Meteosat Third Generation (MTG) system will consist of three satellites in geostationary orbit positioned 36,000km above the equator.
When fully deployed in 2026, the three satellites will provide 50 times more data than the current Meteosat second generation, allowing meteorologists to improve the accuracy of forecasts.
They will provide images of Europe every two and a half minutes, including the first comprehensive observations of lightning from space.
As climate change leads to more frequent and more severe weather events, accurate and timely weather forecasting and nowcasting is more important than ever.