MetOp artist's view

MetOp is a series of three meteorological operational polar orbiting satellites, the first of which, MetOp-1 is the prototype.
The instruments on MetOp will produce high-resolution images, vertical temperature and humidity profiles, and temperatures of the land and ocean surface on a global basis. Also on board the satellites will be instruments for monitoring ozone and wind flow over the oceans. Those instruments will be of significant value to meteorologists and other scientists, particularly those studying the global climate.
MetOp-A was launched on 19 October 2006 and is part of an international joint system in cooperation with the USA.