MTG-S Infrared Sounder First Images Spotlight European Weather Forecast Improvement

Europe is edging toward more accurate weather forecasts with the first images from the Meteosat Third Generation Sounder satellite, MTG-S. Captured on 15 November 2025 from a geostationary orbit about 36,000 km above Earth, these full-disc images were shared by the European Space Agency at the European Space Conference in Brussels. They show how MTG-S will deliver data on temperature and humidity to improve forecasts over Europe and northern Africa. That data supports more reliable forecasts, better warnings, and more informed planning for everything from daily commuting to farming.

MTG-S Mission and Instrument Details

MTG-S sits within Europe’s Meteosat Third Generation program, a push to upgrade the continent’s weather satellites. The mission focuses on sounding, which means it reads vertical temperature and humidity profiles that forecast models rely on to predict how the weather will unfold. The program is part of the broader Meteosat Third Generation family run by EUMETSAT, the agency responsible for European satellite meteorology.

The Infrared Sounder, which uses long-wave infrared light to sense Earth's thermal energy, provides infrared sensing on MTG-S. It helps scientists map how air temperature changes with altitude and how humidity is distributed through the atmosphere. The first image and its explanations appear in the Meteosat Third Generation overview, showing how sounder data complements imaging data to improve forecasts.

Impact on Forecasts and Future Plans

From the first MTG-S image, the temperature field shows up in striking detail. The temperature image relies on the long-wavelength infrared channel to measure both surface temperatures and the temperature at the tops of clouds. In the description released with the imagery, dark red areas indicate higher surface temperatures, while blue denotes cooler regions near cloud tops. The view shows Africa and parts of South America as warm, with the western coast of Africa in dark red and the Cape Verde peninsula standing out as among the warmest areas in the scene.

That relevance becomes clear when you consider how forecasts are made. Being able to measure temperature and humidity profiles from a single, continuous vantage point in geostationary orbit lets meteorologists track evolving storms, heat waves, and rainfall events with greater confidence and speed. Because MTG-S sits above the same regions, it can deliver high-cadence data that feed forecast models and enable timelier warnings for people and infrastructure across Europe and northern Africa.

Looking ahead, MTG-S is part of a broader effort to boost Europe’s weather observation and climate monitoring. The first images show that the infrared sounder can deliver temperature and humidity data from space, opening the door to improvements in forecast accuracy. As more MTG satellites come online and data streams mature, researchers expect a steady flow of higher-quality observations that support everyday decisions, disaster response planning, and long-term climate analysis.