description Metop-B Overview
Metop-B is the second satellite in the EUMETSAT Polar System, launched on September 17, 2012 aboard a Soyuz rocket from Baikonur into a Sun-synchronous polar orbit at approximately 817 km altitude. It carries the same suite of instruments as Metop-A, including the IASI infrared sounder, AMSU-A microwave sounder, MHS humidity sounder, AVHRR imager, and ASCAT scatterometer. Metop-B continues to provide atmospheric temperature, humidity, and wind measurements for operational weather forecasting and climate monitoring alongside Metop-A and Metop-C.
insights Ranking position
Metop-B ranks #47 of 187 in the Satellite ranking, behind Radarsat-2, ahead of Sentinel-3B.
help Metop-B FAQ
What instruments does Metop-B carry for weather forecasting?
Metop-B carries a suite of instruments including the Infrared Atmospheric Sounding Interferometer (IASI), the Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR), and the Advanced Scatterometer (ASCAT). These instruments collectively provide atmospheric temperature and humidity profiles, ocean surface wind vectors, and cloud imagery used in global numerical weather prediction.
Is Metop-B still operational?
Yes, Metop-B continues to operate well beyond its original five-year design lifetime after its launch on September 17, 2012. It flies alongside Metop-C in a sun-synchronous polar orbit, maintaining EUMETSAT's morning-pass meteorological coverage.
How does Metop-B data feed into weather models like ECMWF?
Metop-B data streams directly into major global numerical weather prediction systems operated by organizations including ECMWF, Meteo-France, and the UK Met Office. Its IASI instrument alone provides millions of atmospheric soundings per day that significantly improve mid-range forecast accuracy.
What is replacing the first-generation Metop satellites?
The Metop Second Generation (Metop-SG) satellites, being developed by ESA and EUMETSAT with Airbus as prime contractor, will begin replacing the first-generation series starting in the mid-2020s. The next-generation system consists of three satellite types labeled A, B, and C, each carrying different enhanced instrument suites.
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