27, October 2020
FCI, on the MTG-I satellite, will continue the very successful operation of the Spinning Enhanced Visible and Infrared Imager (SEVIRI) on Meteosat Second Generation (MSG). Requirements have been formulated by regional and global Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP) and Nowcasting communities.
These requirements are reflected in the design which allows for scanning the full Earth disc in 10 minutes in support of the Full Disc Scanning Service (FDSS), or the upper quarter of the disc (i.e., Europe) in 2.5 minutes in support of the Rapid Scanning Service (RSS).
The FCI measures in 16 channels in the visible and infrared spectrum of which eight are placed in the solar spectral domain between 0.4 µm to 2.2 µm, delivering data at a 1 km spatial sampling distance (resolution) at nadir (sub-satellite point the centre of the disc). The additional eight channels are in the thermal spectral domain between 3.8 µm and 13.3 µm, delivering data at 2 km spatial sampling distance at nadir. This observation mode is referred to as Full Disc High Spectral Resolution Imagery (FDHSI) mission.
Furthermore, the FCI samples two channels in the solar domain (0.6 µm and 2.2 µm) at higher spatial sampling distance of 0.5 km. and two channels in the thermal domain (3.8 µm and 10.5 µm) at higher spatial sampling distance of 1 km at nadir. This observation mode is referred to as High Spatial Resolution Fast Imagery (HRFI) mission.
With both missions, the FCI instrument supports the Full Disc Scanning Service (FDSS) and the Rapid Scanning Service (RSS).
With the FCI on board the MTG-I satellites, Europe will continue to play the leading role in imaging radiometry from the geostationary orbit in the decades to come.
Figures 3-5 illustrate the variation of average pixel area in km2 for imagery with 1 km spatial sampling distance at nadir, and approximate pixel contours for four selected locations in Europe.
Instrument information
| Channel | Centre Wavelength | Spectral Width | Spatial Sampling Distance (SSD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| VIS 0.4 | 0.444 µm | 0.060 µm | 1.0 km |
| VIS 0.5 | 0.510 µm | 0.040 µm | 1.0 km |
| VIS 0.6 | 0.640 µm | 0.050 µm | 1.0 km; 0.5 km |
| VIS 0.8 | 0.865 µm | 0.050 µm | 1.0 km |
| VIS 0.9 | 0.914 µm | 0.020 µm | 1.0 km |
| NIR 1.3 | 1.380 µm | 0.030 µm | 1.0 km |
| NIR 1.6 | 1.610 µm | 0.050 µm | 1.0 km |
| NIR 2.2 | 2.250 µm | 0.050 µm | 1.0 km; 0.5 km |
| IR 3.8 (TIR) | 3.800 µm | 0.400 µm | 2.0 km; 1.0 km |
| WV 6.3 | 6.300 µm | 1.000 µm | 2.0 km |
| WV 7.3 | 7.350 µm | 0.500 µm | 2.0 km |
| IR 8.7 (TIR) | 8.700 µm | 0.400 µm | 2.0 km |
| IR 9.7 (O3 ) | 9.660 µm | 0.300 µm | 2.0 km |
| IR 10.5 (TIR) | 10.500 µm | 0.700 µm | 2.0 km; 1.0 km |
| IR 12.3 (TIR) | 12.300 µm | 0.500 µm | 2.0 km |
| IR 13.3 (CO2 ) | 13.300 µm | 0.600 µm | 2.0 km |
