earth science

MetOp-SG

MetOp-SG is a earth science topic covered in the lgStudy science library. This page brings together a partial reference excerpt, illustrations, worked examples, real-world applications and a short study plan, so you can understand MetOp-SG rather than just read about it. In short: MetOp-SG (Meteorological Operational Satellite – Second Generation) is a series of six meteorological satellites developed by European Space Agency and EUMETSAT to be launched from 2025 to 2039. Development In May 2014 during the ILA Berlin Air Show, in the presence of German chancellor Angela Merkel, ESA, EUMETSAT and Airbus Defence and Space signed the first documents for the development of the second generation o…

Key takeaways

MetOp-SG belongs to earth science; place it in that map before memorising details.
Learn the definition first, then one example that makes the definition concrete.
Connect MetOp-SG to a quantity you can measure, compute or draw — that is where exam questions come from.
Reproduce the core statement of MetOp-SG from memory before moving on to harder problems.

Reference excerpt

MetOp-SG (Meteorological Operational Satellite – Second Generation) is a series of six meteorological satellites developed by European Space Agency and EUMETSAT to be launched from 2025 to 2039.

Development In May 2014 during the ILA Berlin Air Show, in the presence of German chancellor Angela Merkel, ESA, EUMETSAT and Airbus Defence and Space signed the first documents for the development of the second generation of MetOp satellites. On 16 October 2014 a contract was signed with Airbus Defence and Space for the construction of the satellites, worth €1.3 billion in total for six spacecraft (on average €266.7 million each). In December 2014 additional contracts were signed for Ice Cloud Imagers to be used on the B-series satellites and three microwave sounder instruments.

Satellites MetOp-SG satellites are being built in two series: A, carrying visible, infrared, and microwave imagers and sounders; and B, carrying microwave imagers and radars. The first A-series satellite (MetOp-SG A1/Sentinel-5A) was launched on Ariane 6 on 12 August 2025, and the Launch and Early Orbit Phase (LEOP) of commissioning was successfully completed 3 days later. The first B-series satellite (MetOp-SG B1) is set to launch in 2026, also using the Ariane 6 rocket.

MetOp Second Generation A instruments Infrared Atmospheric Sounding Interferometer –New Generation: A passive infrared sounder that will measure parameters such as temperature and humidity profiles, clouds, greenhouse gases, aerosols, and trace gases in the Earth’s atmosphere. Microwave Sounder: A total power microwave sounder that will deliver calibrated and geolocated atmospheric temperature and water vapour sounding data under all weather conditions. Visible and Infrared Imager (METimage): A multi-spectral optical and short wave infrared imager that will provide observations of the Earth’s outgoing radiation for meteorological and climate applications. Radio Occultation Sounder: An atmospheric sounder that will provide temperature and humidity profiles in all weather conditions with high accuracy and provide ionospheric measurements for space weather applications. Multi-Viewing, Multi-Channel, Multi-Polarisation Imager: An optical imager with a wide field of view, whose objectives are to provide atmospheric aerosol and cloud imagery for climate monitoring, air quality forecasts and numerical weather prediction. Copernicus Sentinel-5/Ultraviolet, Visible, Near-Infrared and Short Wave Infrared Sounder: An ultraviolet visible near-infrared shortwave spectrometer, valuable for monitoring gas concentrations and air quality of the atmosphere. Radiation Monitoring Unit (RMU), ESA hosted instrument (also called NGRM) to measure the radiation environment. ESA conduct the data calibration and production, rather than EUMETSAT as this is not a weather instrument.

MetOp Second Generation B instruments Scatterometer: A real-aperture pulsed imaging radar that will provide measurements relevant for measuring sea surface roughness, which correlates closely with wind speed and direction over the ocean, and soil moisture. Radio Occultation Sounder Microwave Imager: A microwave imager that will provide data on precipitation, temperature, cloud, water vapour, sea ice, and snow cover. Ice Cloud Imager: A short microwave imager that will enrich global observations of ice clouds, such as cirriform clouds. Argos-4: The satellite element of an advanced data collection system dedicated to oceanography and wildlife

Operations MetOp-SG satellites are a follow on from the three MetOp satellites and therefore a short tandem mission was performed from April to June 2026 between the MetOp-SG-A1 and MetOp-C satellites to cross calibrate old and new instruments. A tandem mission will also be flown between MetOp-SG-A1 and the FORUM satellite in the future.

References

External links

MetOp-SG – Meteorological data across the entire globe video presentation MetOp-SG instruments status and calibration WMO OSCAR | Details for Satellite Programme: EPS Second Generation, from the World Meteorological Organization

Illustrations

Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with MetOp-SG

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what MetOp-SG claims or describes in one sentence, then invent the smallest concrete situation in which that sentence is true. In earth science, the smallest case is usually a single object, a single equation or a single measurement. Check that every symbol or term in your sentence has a meaning in that case.

Example 2 — changing one variable

Take the situation from Example 1 and change exactly one quantity: double it, halve it, or set it to zero. Predict what should happen to MetOp-SG before you calculate. Comparing your prediction with the result is the fastest way to find out whether you understand the idea or only the words.

Example 3 — an exam-style question

Typical questions about MetOp-SG ask you to (a) state it precisely, (b) apply it to given data, and (c) explain a limitation. Practise writing all three answers in under five minutes; the third part is what separates a full-mark answer from an average one.

Applications of MetOp-SG

In research: MetOp-SG appears in earth science research whenever the underlying quantities have to be modelled precisely. Papers usually cite it as a starting assumption and then explore where it breaks down.
In technology and industry: Engineering practice reuses MetOp-SG in design rules, simulations and safety margins. Knowing the idea lets you read a specification sheet and understand why the numbers look the way they do.
In the classroom: MetOp-SG is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics 2020s in spaceflight, Earth observation satellites of the European Space Agency, European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life: Look for MetOp-SG outside the textbook — in sport, cooking, traffic, electronics or the sky above you. An example you found yourself is remembered far longer than one you were given.

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How to study MetOp-SG in 20 minutes

Read the reference excerpt below once, without taking notes.
Close the page and write down what MetOp-SG means in your own words.
Compare your version with the excerpt and mark what you missed.
Work through the three examples above with pen and paper.
Explain MetOp-SG out loud to somebody else — or to Teacher Smith in the lgStudy chat.

Frequently asked questions

What is MetOp-SG in simple terms?

MetOp-SG (Meteorological Operational Satellite – Second Generation) is a series of six meteorological satellites developed by European Space Agency and EUMETSAT to be launched from 2025 to 2039. Development In May 2014 during the ILA Berlin Air Show, in the presence of German chancellor Angela Merk…

Why does MetOp-SG matter?

Because it connects several earth science ideas at once: it gives you a definition you can apply, a quantity you can calculate, and a way to check whether a result is plausible.

How should I study MetOp-SG?

Read the excerpt, restate it from memory, then work through the examples and applications listed on this page. The five-step study plan above takes about twenty minutes.

What does this page cover?

It gives you a compact reference excerpt plus original lgStudy explanations, examples, applications and study material on MetOp-SG.