02 September 2022
28 May 2020
SEVIRI has twelve spectral channels, as opposed to three on the previous system. These provide more precise data throughout the atmosphere, giving improved quality to the starting conditions for numerical weather prediction models.
Eight of the channels are in the thermal infrared, providing, among other information, permanent data about the temperatures of clouds, land and sea surfaces. One of the channels is called the High Resolution Visible (HRV) channel, and has a sampling distance at nadir of 1km, as opposed to the 3km resolution of the other visible channels.
Using channels that absorb ozone, water vapour and carbon dioxide, MSG satellites allows meteorologists to analyse the characteristics of atmospheric air masses and reconstruct a three-dimensional view of the atmosphere.
The improved horizontal image resolution for the visible light spectral channel (1km as opposed to 2.5km) also helps weather forecasters in detecting and predicting the onset or end of severe weather.
For details on the data and products available from SEVIRI see our 0 Degree service page.