Image Library top ten for 2016
January–December 2016
A look at our most popular case studies from 2016.
22 October 2020
04 January 2017
We've taken a look back at the case studies entries we've produced this year and, using our web and @eumetsat_users Twitter statistics, we've compiled a list of our top studies in 2016.
Our most popular entry was about thunderstorms triggered when the UK had its hottest day of the year, with imagery captured by Meteosat-10.
In fact storms proved to be the most popular cases of 2016. On our Twitterfeed our case on Storm Henry had the largest engagement rate.
2016 imagery
1: Extreme heat triggers thunderstorms in the UK
On 19 July the UK saw its hottest day of 2016, when the mercury topped 33.5 °C. The heat then triggered thunderstorms.
Download animation from 19 July 18:00 UTC to 20 July 09:00 UTC
Case studies case study
2: Smoke from wildfires in Portugal
Smoke from widespread wildfires, which ravaged parts of Portugal in early August 2016, was seen by Meteosat-10 on 8 August.
Download full resolution
Case studies entry for the smoke over Portugal
3: Tropical Cyclone Fantala
Tropical Cyclone Fantala showed a very clearly defined eye as the storm reached Category 5 level in mid-April. This eye was 'seen' by the Meteosat-10, Suomi-NPP and terra satellites.
Download full resolution
Case studies entry for TC Fantala
4: Storm Henry
On 1 and 2 February Storm Henry moved east between Iceland and Scotland bringing very strong winds and high seas. Stornoway in the Outer Hebrides reported mean speeds up to 74 km/h (46 mph) with gusts to 100 km/h (62 mph).
5: Storms bring large hailstones and lightning to parts of Central Europe
On 23 May 2016 severe storms caused heavy rain, large hailstones and numerous lightning strikes in parts of central Europe.
Download animated gif of Meteosat-10 HRV imagery, 23 May 12:00–17:27 UTC
Case study on the storms
6: Monitoring tropical cyclones from space
This was an in-depth study, first written 2012, looking at how you can see tropical cyclones forming and follow where they are moving using satellite imagery. It proved popular at the start of the North Atlantic hurricane season.
7: Himawari-8 has its eye on Typhoon Nepartak
Super Typhoon Nepartak reached winds of 270 km/h when it was seen by Himawari-8 on 6 July.
Download Himawari-8 infrared animation, 5 July 00:00 UTC–8 July 23:30 UTC
Typhoon case study
8: Eruption of Pavlof volcano, Alaska
In March the Pavlof volcano, located on a remote Alaskan island, erupted, sending ash plumes more than 20,000ft into the air.
Download loop on Himawari-8 Band 3 (0.64 microns)
Case studies entry on the eruption
9: Contrasting temperatures in Oman
On 12 June 2016 while the north coast of Oman experienced the hottest day of the year, southern parts saw cooler temperatures.
10: Canadian smoke moves towards the North Atlantic
The smoke from the devastating wild fires in Alberta, Canada, could be seen moving towards the North Atlantic on 9 May.
Case studies entry about the sunglint
Related Content
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EUMETSAT's monthly weather videos on YouTube
