The first images from Europe s…

The first images from Europe s pioneering meteorological infrared sounder were unveiled at the EU Space Conference in Brussels, marking a significant advance in observing the atmosphere in three dimensions ahead of severe weather.
The new data come from the Infrared Sounder instrument on Meteosat Third Generation Sounder 1, the first European geostationary satellite to carry a hyperspectral infrared sounding capability designed specifically for meteorology.

From its geostationary orbit, the Infrared Sounder scans the atmosphere over Europe and adjacent regions every 30 minutes across nearly 2,000 narrow infrared channels, retrieving vertical profiles of temperature, humidity and trace gases throughout the troposphere and lower stratosphere. These three dimensional measurements allow meteorologists to detect subtle changes in temperature and moisture that signal atmospheric instability, often hours before clouds develop, providing earlier insight into where thunderstorms and other hazardous weather systems may form.