The landmark Meteosat Third Generation Sounder (MTG-S1) - the first geostationary satellite providing 3D profiles of temperature and humidity over Europe – has been declared operational by EUMETSAT.
Launched on 1 July 2025, MTG-S1 has spent the past year undergoing rigorous testing and checks before being relocated to its permanent operational position at 0° longitude. As it is now operational, the name has officially been changed to Meteosat-13.
After a year of preparation, Meteosat-13 has now transitioned from a satellite with potential to an operational asset delivering data to improve forecast model accuracy and aid decision-making.
The satellite will provide meteorologists with ground-breaking 4D observations of the atmosphere combined with air quality monitoring, helping to improve forecasts accuracy, and strengthen early warnings of severe weather across Europe.
Met Office Managing Director of Products and Services Simon Brown said: “New and innovative satellites are vital for helping power the weather intelligence needed for the modern world.
“Now operational, Meteosat-13 is already providing our expert meteorologists with extra layers of detail which can enhance accuracy, improve forecasts and ultimately help people and businesses make better decisions around the weather.”
Revolutionising European observations
MTG-S1 was the second satellite out of six launched in the Meteosat Third Generation programme and represents a transformative step for weather forecasting in Europe, delivering unprecedented observations.
At the heart of the mission is the Infrared Sounder (IRS), Europe's first hyperspectral sounding instrument operating from geostationary orbit. The instrument provides three-dimensional profiles of temperature and humidity throughout the atmosphere, offering meteorologists higher levels of detail, more frequently, helping to observe how weather systems are developing.
Scanning Europe every 30 minutes, these real-time observations will be ingested into supercomputer calculations, enhancing forecast accuracy. The data will also help forecasters identify atmospheric instability before severe weather develops, unlocking earlier warnings.
EUMETSAT Director-General Phil Evans said, “Together with the imaging and lightning sensors on our MTG imager satellites and their rapid revisiting time, they give a true four-dimensional view of the atmosphere, enabling forecasters to follow a storm over Europe from early instability through its growth up to full intensity lightning and precipitation, for the first time.”
Protecting lives from space
MTG-S1 also hosts the Copernicus Sentinel-4 mission, which will provide hourly measurements of atmospheric pollutants and air quality across Europe and North Africa.
The data will support environmental monitoring, climate research and public health services by helping track the movement and concentration of atmospheric pollutants.
From monitoring smoke from major wildfires, supporting responses to extreme heat or improving awareness of developing tropical cyclones, these insights will help vulnerable communities and decision-makers prepare for hazards before their impacts are felt.
Looking ahead
MTG-S1 now joins MTG-I1 and MSG-3 in Europe's operational geostationary meteorological satellite constellation, marking the beginning of a new chapter for weather forecasting.
The next satellite due to come online in the programme is MTG-I2, which launched in August 2026. Planned to be positioned at 9.5° longitude, it will provide a Rapid Scanning Service capable of monitoring Europe every 150 seconds, further enhancing forecasters' ability to track fast-evolving weather events.
These satellite missions are evolving weather and climate intelligence altogether. Combining a three-dimensional view of the atmosphere with advanced air quality monitoring is creating a new generation of advanced forecasting and environmental services across Europe for decades to come.
Read more about Meteosat-13 and the full MTG constellation from EUMETSAT here.
