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.
The instrument provides continuous half hourly coverage at a spatial sampling of about 7 kilometers over Europe, supporting detailed monitoring of atmospheric dynamics on timescales relevant to nowcasting and short range numerical weather prediction.
In addition to its role in forecasting storms, the Infrared Sounder delivers information on key atmospheric pollutants and constituents, including ozone and related gases, improving air quality analysis and supporting services for public health and environmental monitoring in densely populated areas.
One of the first data products released is a full Earth disc image from a channel sensitive to surface temperature, acquired between 12:45 and 15:30 UTC on 15 November 2025, in which warm land and sea surfaces and cold cloud tops are clearly distinguished.
In this view, hot desert regions appear as red tones, temperate ocean areas show as intermediate colors, and high, cold cloud tops appear in blue hues, making frontal systems, storm clusters and cloud streets stand out clearly across the Atlantic, Europe and Africa.
Phil Evans, Director General of EUMETSAT, said that the new capability marks a step change for European meteorology, explaining that by revealing atmospheric instability in three dimensions before clouds form, the Infrared Sounder will allow forecasters to monitor how the atmosphere evolves and anticipate severe weather more effectively.
He noted that this type of hyperspectral sounding from geostationary orbit has previously been available only over parts of the globe, and that the Meteosat Third Generation system now brings this advanced observing capability to Europe and its neighboring regions on an operational basis.
Meteosat Third Generation Sounder 1 forms part of the wider MTG constellation, which also includes imaging satellites such as Meteosat 12 that provide high resolution visible and infrared images of cloud systems, as well as lightning imagers that track electrical activity inside storms.
Together, the sounder, imager and lightning instruments will allow meteorologists to follow the full life cycle of convective systems from the earliest signs of instability, through rapid development phases, to mature thunderstorms and severe weather outbreaks impacting Europe.
EUMETSAT operates MTG S1 from its control center in Darmstadt, Germany, where flight operations, mission planning and data processing are conducted in partnership with European national meteorological services.
The Infrared Sounder and the MTG S1 satellite platform were developed for the European Space Agency by a European industrial team led by Thales Alenia Space and OHB System AG, under requirements defined by EUMETSAT in close consultation with its member states.
The development involved advanced infrared detector technology, complex cryogenic cooling systems and high performance on board processing to handle the large data volumes generated by hyperspectral measurements from geostationary orbit.
EUMETSAT has made the first Infrared Sounder images and associated demonstration data products available through an online portal, allowing forecasters, researchers and technical users to explore how the new information can be integrated into weather, air quality and climate applications.
A dedicated press and media page offers downloadable versions of the first full disc images and explanatory material, while the main EUMETSAT website provides broader background on the Meteosat Third Generation programme, its objectives and its role in Europe s operational meteorological satellite system.
Over time, the Infrared Sounder time series will also support studies of climate variability and trends in atmospheric temperature and humidity, complementing data from polar orbiting sounders and contributing to long term climate data records.
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