The EUMETSAT Application Ground Segment comprises a central processing facility and the distributed network of Satellite Application Facilities (SAF), which, together, provide the necessary research, development, and generation of level 1 and level 2 satellite products for onward dissemination to the user community. The Product Navigator has a full list of EUMETSAT centrally produced and SAF products.

The map below shows the deployment of the SAF Operational Architecture Services and associated products. Select the SAFs to display the relevant services, and SAF subsystems to display the subsystem details.

Central Application Facility

The Central Application Facility (CAF), located at the EUMETSAT headquarters, is responsible for the generation of level 1 processed satellite data and the generation of higher level 2 products, which primarily support the application needs for Nowcasting and Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP).

Satellite Application Facilities

The Satellite Application Facilities (SAFs) are a distributed network of thematic application facilities responsible for necessary research, development, and operational activities not carried out by the central facility. The SAFs are located within the National Meteorological Services (NMS) of EUMETSAT Member States, or other agreed entities linked to a user community.

SAFs deliverables can be a specific piece of software to be made available users for use in their own environment, or data and products made available in near real-time or off-line.

Offline Ozone Profile (OOP)
Aerosol (ARS)

NRT Assimilated Total Ozone (ATO)

NRT Total Ozone (NTO)

NRT Total Ozone (NTO)
provided offline

Product Validation

Products generated within the Application Ground Segment are subject to a validation processes to ensure the correct quality of product has been reached. All products need to meet validation criteria before an 'operational' product validation status can be applied. Corresponding validation reports are made available at the time of the product release.

Archiving Data and Products

All data and products generated within the Application Ground Segment are archived and can be retrieved, on demand, by users. The EUMETSAT Data Centre provides the central archive facility and retrieval service. In addition, the network of SAF archives provides thematic archive and retrieval services for their products. Products from the SAFs can be ordered centrally via the Data Centre.