MetOp for weather forecasting

The series of MetOp weather satellites orbit Earth from pole to pole, just over 800 km high, complementing the long-standing series of Meteosat satellites that hover 36 000 km above the equator in geostationary orbit. The economic and social benefits of accurate weather forecasts are huge so there is a continued effort to improve forecasts even further. Recent studies show that MetOp-A and MetOp-B have already reduced errors in one-day forecasts by 27%. MetOp-C will add to the family and guarantee the provision of these essential data well into the 2020s. In addition, it ensures the smooth transition to the next generation of MetOp satellites, which are currently being built. The MetOp satellites are developed by ESA under a cooperation agreement to form the space segment of the Eumetsat Polar System. This system is Europe’s contribution to a multi-orbit polar system shared with the US NOAA agency.