N° 31–2023: Media invitation: First data from Europe’s first lightning detector
27 June 2023
Media representatives are invited to discover the first results from Europe’s first Lightning Imager on Monday 3 July 2023 at 14:00 CEST.
The instrument is flown onboard Europe’s newest and most advanced weather satellite, the Meteosat Third Generation Imager-1 (MTG-I1).
The Lightning Imager can detect lightning events in the sky, whether day or night. This is the first time a geostationary weather satellite has the capability to detect lightning across Europe, Africa and the surrounding waters.
ESA, Eumetsat and the instrument’s developers, Leonardo, will jointly release and discuss the first results and visualisations produced from the Lighting Imager during an online media event on Monday 3 July 2023.
Data from the Lightning Imager will give weather forecasters greater confidence in their predictions of severe storms. Data from the instrument is expected to become available to weather services throughout Europe and beyond for use in their weather forecasts from early 2024.
Online press briefing in English
Monday 3 July 2023, 14:00 – 15:00 CEST
Participants:
- Phil Evans, Eumetsat Director-General,
- Simonetta Cheli, ESA Director of Earth Observation Programmes
- Guia Pastorini, Leonardo Project Engineering Manager for the Lightning Imager
Eumetsat’s MTG Programme Scientist Jochen Grandell and ESA’s MTG Instrument Performance and Commissioning Engineer Pierre Kokou will be on stand-by to answer scientific and technical questions.
Media registration
Please express interest by Friday 30 June at 17:00 CEST by completing the relevant form:
https://eumetsat.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_UQKyQNs_Ssmem2POZz5mAA#/registration
After registering, media will receive additional information and the link to join the online information session (on Zoom).
The media information session will also be streamed via esawebtv.esa.int (Channel 2).
Further information
Meteosat Third Generation Imager-1
Meteosat Third Generation media kit
Social media
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Twitter: @esa @ESA_EO
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Images
https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Missions/MTG/(result_type)/images
ESA's Photo Library for Professionals:
https://www.esa-photolibrary.com/
Terms and conditions for using ESA images:
www.esa.int/spaceinimages/ESA_Multimedia/Copyright_Notice_Images
For questions or more information related to ESA images, please contact directly spaceinimages@esa.int
Videos
https://www.esa.int/esatv/Videos/2022/09/New_weather_satellite_on_its_way_to_launch
https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Missions/MTG/(result_type)/videos
ESA's Video Library for Professionals:
https://www.esa.int/esatv/Videos_for_Professionals
Terms and conditions for using ESA videos: https://www.esa.int/spaceinvideos/Terms_and_Conditions
For questions or more information related to ESA videos, please contact directly spaceinvideos@esa.int
About the European Space Agency
The European Space Agency (ESA) provides Europe’s gateway to space.
ESA is an intergovernmental organisation, created in 1975, with the mission to shape the development of Europe’s space capability and ensure that investment in space delivers benefits to the citizens of Europe and the world
ESA has 22 Member States: Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. Latvia, Lithuania, Slovakia and Slovenia are Associate Members.
ESA has established formal cooperation with four Member States of the EU. Canada takes part in some ESA programmes under a Cooperation Agreement.
By coordinating the financial and intellectual resources of its members, ESA can undertake programmes and activities far beyond the scope of any single European country. It is working in particular with the EU on implementing the Galileo and Copernicus programmes as well as with Eumetsat for the development of meteorological missions.
Learn more about ESA at www.esa.int
For further information:
ESA Newsroom and Media Relations Office – Ninja Menning
Email: media@esa.int
Tel: +31 71 5656409