Their shared goal is to ensure that the enormous effort that has gone into designing and building the whole system pays off. For this to be the case, it is essential that the data and products incorporating the satellite observations meet stringent quality standards.
EPS-SG is composed of two models of Metop Second Generation (Metop-SG) polar-orbiting satellites that will provide continuity for, and improve upon, the observations of the first generation of Metop satellites. These observations are crucial for ensuring the continued accuracy of numerical weather prediction models, which meteorologists use to forecast global and regional weather.
“EPS-SG instruments touch on virtually all aspects of the Earth system, including the climate, hydrology, atmospheric chemistry, and the oceans,” she said.
“It’s a massively exciting platform. There’s a diverse range of instruments, including a mix of brand-new elements and others that are very nice evolutions of heritage instruments that will provide big steps forward from what has been done before.”
Munro is looking forward to seeing the hard work that has gone into this mission pay off.
“A successful launch is always a shiver-down-the-spine moment,” she said.
“But when I imagine further ahead to when the first EPS-SG satellite, Metop-SGA1, starts delivering operational data – it’s going to trigger a lot of new developments within our user community. With the amount and variety of data that will be available to our users it will be like opening the door to a giant sweet shop of information.
“It’s going to be fantastic.”
Author:
Sarah Puschmann
