The first Infrared Sounder image viewed through this long-wave infrared channel

Image of the week: First images from Meteosat Third Generation Sounder 1

Watching our Earth from space

This week’s image comes from the first image release of the Meteosat Third Generation Sounder 1 (MTG-S1) satellite, unveiled yesterday at the European Space Conference in Brussels. The image was captured in November 2025 by the on-board Infrared Sounder (IRS).

Last Updated

28 January 2026

Published on

28 January 2026

From its position 36,000km above the equator, the satellite monitors the full Earth disc, covering Europe, Africa, and the surrounding atmosphere.

The IRS instrument collects data across nearly 2,000 infrared wavelengths at the same time, offering insights into atmospheric temperature, humidity, and the composition of gases and particles at different altitudes.

Data from MTG-S1 will underpin a new generation of products supporting national weather services, enabling three-dimensional analysis of storm environments, earlier detection of developing convection, and improved forecast accuracy - supporting risk reduction and helping save lives and benefit economies.

Surface and cloud temperatures image

The main image captures clouds associated with Storm Claudia over western and southern Europe. Deep blue tones highlight polar ice and cloud tops, warmer yellow hues reveal ocean waters, and white shades mark thinner clouds. Over the Sahara, the land shifts from dark red under daytime heating to cooler tones at night.

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See even more imagery from the IRS here

Meteosat Third Generation

How we monitor atmosphere from space

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Sweeping through the spectrum

This video shows a selection of infrared channels, with each wavelength highlighting different aspects of the Earth’s surface and atmosphere.

These first images are the result of an intensive commissioning phase by OHB and Thales Alenia Space, under the coordination of EUMETSAT and the European Space Agency. They offer a first glimpse of MTG-S1's new perspective of the dynamic atmosphere over Europe and beyond.