Look at the Earth in the highest resolution: the photo was taken by a third-generation satellite

Launched on December 13, 2022 by an Ariane 5 rocket, Meteosat's third generation satellite Imager-1 (MTG-I1

) is the first satellite of a new generation,which, according to scientists, will revolutionize weather forecasting in Europe. The data will help scientists better understand the Earth and the weather systems that shape its climate. The full resolution image can be viewed at the link.

Credit: EUMETSAT/ESA

In a satellite imageThe combined imager shows much of Northern and Western Europe and Scandinavia covered in clouds, with relatively clear skies over Italy and the Western Balkans. The image shows details such as cloud swirls over the Canary Islands, snow cover in the Alps and sediment in the water along the Italian coast. These details are not so clearly visible in images from the instruments of the second generation spacecraft.

The new image also shows a higher level of detail in cloud structures at high latitudes.

"It may seem strange that you care so muchcloudy day in much of Europe. But the level of detail of the clouds in this image is extremely important to forecasters. The increased frequency of imagery means forecasters will be able to more accurately and quickly detect and forecast severe weather events,” explains Phil Evans, CEO of Eumetsat.

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On the cover: MTG-I, ESA