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September 8, 2022 07:43
Europe on Wednesday unveiled the first satellite in a 4 billion euro ($4 billion) series designed to provide early warning of the severe weather waves that have caused havoc around the world this year.
The MTGI-I1 satellite, which is the result of 12 years of development for the European Space Agency and the European Meteorological Organization (EUMETSAT), which includes 30 countries, will be launched by the end of this year on an Ariane 5 rocket and will give a better picture from space of Europe and Africa.
The 3.8-tonne satellite will transmit images from next year, and will be joined by three other satellites of the same type and the MTGS satellite, capable of dissecting the atmosphere in much the same way as a medical scanner, by 2030.
Scientists hope that satellites will be able to predict storms and floods early enough to save lives. And the atmospheric survey will provide a better picture of the current conditions for inclusion in their computerized models.
The initiative highlights the race to tackle weather disruptions exacerbated by global warming, which are estimated to cost $100 billion worldwide in 2021 alone.
The MTG-I1 satellites will bring Europe closely into line with the GOES-R network operated by NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Source: agencies
