MetOp-A takes up service (Forwarded)

ESA News
http://www.esa.int

16 May 2007

MetOp-A takes up service

EUMETSAT has just reported that Europe entered a new era of meteorology and
climatology when MetOp-A, Europe's first polar-orbiting meteorological
satellite, was on 15 May 2007 officially declared operational after only six
months of commissioning.

The first scientific data were received as early as two days after the end
of the Launch and Early-Orbit Phase. Now the full data flow from its
instruments is available to users on an operational basis, offering
unprecedented accuracy and resolution of different variables such as
temperature and humidity, wind speed, ozone and measurements of trace gases
such as carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide and methane.

Through its instruments, which sound the atmosphere throughout its depth,
MetOp-A gathers essential global information, day and night about the
atmosphere, land and ocean surfaces. MetOp-A data will significantly improve
weather forecasting e.g. by direct assimilation into Numerical Weather
Prediction Models that compute forecasts ranging from a few hours to up to
10 days ahead.

Observations of sea-surface winds as provided by MetOp-A offer essential
information to improve the determination of the motion of low pressure areas
over the sea, in particular hurricanes.

Furthermore the new observations will enhance the global climate monitoring
capabilities and help scientists understand the complex interactions between
the various factors that influence the Earth's climate system. Particularly,
observations of ozone and trace gases -- such as nitrogen dioxide which is
related to industrial pollution - will provide a new look into environmental
issues that affect us all.

MetOp-A, launched on 19 October 2006, represents the first in a series of
three satellites to be launched over the next 14 years, forming the space
segment of the EUMETSAT Polar System (EPS). In line with the performance of
the MetOp-A satellite, the newly developed EPS Ground System has shown an
excellent performance especially with regard to availability of near
real-time distribution of data to the End Users.

This official start of regular operations marks a new milestone in the
ongoing development of the US-European Initial Join Polar System -- and for
the overall global cooperation between Europe and the US. The satellite was
jointly developed with the European Space Agency (ESA) and manufactured by
EADS Astrium as the prime contractor. The set of instruments onboard the
satellite are provided by EUMETSAT, ESA, the French Space Agency (CNES) and
the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

[NOTE: Images and weblinks supporting this release are available at
http://www.esa.int/esaEO/SEMYSD8RR1F_economy_1.html ]