Model simulated satellite data produced at ECMWF provide unique information about the output from the numerical weather prediction model. Forecasters can use images generated from the simulated satellite data to visualise model forecast cloud and moisture features, while model developers can use the data in their research activities, in particular to validate model developments which affect the temperature and moisture fields.

The simulated satellite data (SSD) are generated using the operational ECMWF high-resolution forecast model output from the 00 UTC and 12 UTC cycles and the same fast radiative transfer model as used in the operational data assimilation (e.g., RTTOV-11). Output from the high-resolution forecast models is used as input to the RTTOV to calculate the cloudy brightness temperatures expected from satellites using the relevant atmospheric model profiles (i.e., temperature, specific humidity, ozone mass mixing ratio, cloud cover, specific cloud liquid water content, specific cloud ice water content, specific rain water content, specific snow water content) and the relevant surface parameters (i.e., skin temperature, 10m u and v wind components, 2m temperature and 2m dewpoint temperature, volumetric soil water layer 1, convective available potential energy). The data can be visualised to provide a sequence of forecast-generated satellite images showing the evolution of the model-derived cloud or humidity features at 3-hour or 6-hour intervals.

Errors in simulated satellite data can derive from errors in the NWP parameters on which the simulation is based, the resolution of the model and the RTTOV model performance.

Updates to the simulated satellite data at IFS cycle 41r2

The major highlights are:

Global satellite images capturing detailed cloud and/or humidity features
The new simulated satellite data product shows the high-resolution ECMWF forecasts as a weather satellite would see it (e.g. Meteosat-10). The new product includes latitudes greater than 60° north and south, extending the geostationary-type imagery over high-latitude regions.

Nadir view for every model grid point
The new simulated satellite data assume a nadir view (top-down) for every model grid point so the effect of looking slantwise through the atmosphere is neglected.
Produced in post-processing within the IFS, with no mapping on satellite grid
This is a technical advantage of the new simulated satellite data being now produced in the post-processing within the IFS and being part of the research tests for operational release to validate model developments which affect the temperature and moisture fields.
Availability of the simulated satellite data in MARS
The new simulated satellite data products are archived in MARS in GRIB edition 2 and are available at every post-processing step, out to 240 hours: 3 hourly from T+0 to T+144 and 6 hourly from T+150 to T+240.
Availability of the simulated satellite data in ECMWF Catalogue and dissemination in the future
The timeliness of delivery is optimal for dissemination. The addition of the new simulated satellite data products to the ECMWF Catalogue will be proposed. It will not be available to commercial customers / researchers until then.

At present only Meteosat-10-like simulated satellite data are available. The central wavelength of the channels on other geostationary platforms is quite close to those selected to be produced, archived and disseminated based on the Meteosat-10-like data.

Visualising Simulated Satellite Data

The images displayed here have been produced with Metview.

Metview macro for plotting images from simulated satellite data

# Metview Macro - created from Display Window contents

#  **************************** LICENSE START ***********************************
# 
#  Copyright 2015 ECMWF. This software is distributed under the terms
#  of the Apache License version 2.0. In applying this license, ECMWF does not
#  waive the privileges and immunities granted to it by virtue of its status as
#  an Intergovernmental Organization or submit itself to any jurisdiction.
# 
#  ***************************** LICENSE END ************************************
# 
# Date: Thu 17 March 2016
# Author:  ECMWF User Support
# 
  

format  = "png"
satelliteID  = 57  # Meteosat-10
instrument   = 207 # SEVIRI  
channel = 9        # Channel = 5, 6 or 9
clbt    = 260510   # Cloudy Brightness Temperature

outfile = "ssd_channel" & channel

# Device Description 
File_ps = ps_output(  
                OUTPUT_NAME : outfile
        ) 
  
File_png = png_output(  
                OUTPUT_NAME : outfile
        ) 

if format = "png" then
   File = File_png
else
   File = File_ps
end if

# Checks running mode  
mode = runmode()  
if mode = 'batch' or mode = 'execute' then  
   setoutput(File)  
end if  


# Call function to build layout (defined at end of macro)
display_window = build_layout()


# Importing : /usd/EMOSLIB/SSD/get_ssd.mars

ssd_common = (
    stream     : "OPER",
    class      : "od",
    expver     : 0001,
    date       : 0,
    time       : 0,
    type       : "ssd",
    ident      : satelliteID,
    instrument : instrument,
    param      : clbt,
    channel    : channel
    )

ssd_3h = retrieve ( 
    ssd_common,             
    step       : [0,"to",144,"by",3]
    )
    
ssd_6h = retrieve ( 
    ssd_common,             
    step       : [150,"to",240,"by",6]
    )

ssd = ssd_3h & ssd_6h

# Countours for IR channel / clouds

ir_clouds = mcont(
    legend                           : "on",
    contour                          : "off",
    contour_level_selection_type     : "level_list",
    contour_level_list               : [185,187,189,191,193,195,197,199,201,203,205,207,209,211,213,215,217,219,221,223,225,227,229,231,233,235,237,239,241,243,245,247,249,251,253,255,257,259,261,263,265,267,269,271,273,275,277,279,281,283,285,287,289,291,293,295,297,299,301,303,305,307,310,315,320,325],
    contour_label_frequency          : 5,
    contour_shade                    : "on",
    contour_shade_technique          : "cell_shading",
    contour_shade_colour_method      : "list",
    contour_shade_cell_resolution    : 40,
    contour_shade_colour_list        : ["RGB(0.28,0.76,1)","RGB(0.35,0.78,1)","RGB(0.41,0.8,1)","RGB(0.48,0.83,1)","RGB(0.55,0.85,1)","RGB(0.62,0.87,1)","RGB(0.69,0.9,1)","RGB(0.76,0.92,1)","RGB(0.83,0.94,1)","RGB(0.9,0.97,1)","white","RGB(0.99,0.99,0.99)","RGB(0.98,0.98,0.98)","RGB(0.98,0.98,0.98)","RGB(0.97,0.97,0.97)","RGB(0.97,0.97,0.97)","RGB(0.97,0.97,0.97)","RGB(0.97,0.97,0.97)","RGB(0.96,0.96,0.96)","RGB(0.96,0.96,0.96)","RGB(0.96,0.96,0.96)","RGB(0.95,0.95,0.95)","RGB(0.95,0.95,0.95)","RGB(0.95,0.95,0.95)","RGB(0.94,0.94,0.94)","RGB(0.94,0.94,0.94)","RGB(0.93,0.93,0.93)","RGB(0.93,0.93,0.93)","RGB(0.92,0.92,0.92)","RGB(0.91,0.91,0.91)","RGB(0.9,0.9,0.9)","RGB(0.89,0.89,0.89)","RGB(0.87,0.87,0.87)","RGB(0.86,0.86,0.86)","RGB(0.84,0.84,0.84)","RGB(0.82,0.82,0.82)","RGB(0.81,0.81,0.81)","RGB(0.78,0.78,0.78)","RGB(0.76,0.76,0.76)","RGB(0.74,0.74,0.74)","RGB(0.71,0.71,0.71)","RGB(0.69,0.69,0.69)","RGB(0.66,0.66,0.66)","RGB(0.63,0.63,0.63)","RGB(0.6,0.6,0.6)","RGB(0.57,0.57,0.57)","RGB(0.54,0.54,0.54)","RGB(0.51,0.51,0.51)","RGB(0.48,0.48,0.48)","RGB(0.44,0.44,0.44)","RGB(0.41,0.41,0.41)","RGB(0.38,0.38,0.38)","RGB(0.35,0.35,0.35)","RGB(0.32,0.32,0.32)","RGB(0.29,0.29,0.29)","RGB(0.26,0.26,0.26)","RGB(0.23,0.23,0.23)","RGB(0.21,0.21,0.21)"],
    contour_shade_max_level_density  : 25,
    grib_scaling_of_retrieved_fields : "off"
    )

# Contours for Water Vaopour channels

wv_image_common = (
    legend                           : "on",
    contour                          : "off",
    contour_level_selection_type     : "level_list",
    contour_label                    : "off",
    contour_shade                    : "on",
    contour_shade_technique          : "cell_shading",
    contour_shade_colour_method      : "list",
    contour_shade_label_blanking     : "off",
    contour_shade_cell_resolution    : 40,
    contour_shade_colour_list        : ["rgb(1,1,1)","rgb(0.971428571429,0.971428571429,0.971428571429)","rgb(0.942857142857,0.942857142857,0.942857142857)","rgb(0.914285714286,0.914285714286,0.914285714286)","rgb(0.885714285714,0.885714285714,0.885714285714)","rgb(0.857142857143,0.857142857143,0.857142857143)","rgb(0.828571428571,0.828571428571,0.828571428571)","rgb(0.8,0.8,0.8)","rgb(0.771428571429,0.771428571429,0.771428571429)","rgb(0.742857142857,0.742857142857,0.742857142857)","rgb(0.714285714286,0.714285714286,0.714285714286)","rgb(0.685714285714,0.685714285714,0.685714285714)","rgb(0.657142857143,0.657142857143,0.657142857143)","rgb(0.628571428571,0.628571428571,0.628571428571)","rgb(0.6,0.6,0.6)","rgb(0.571428571429,0.571428571429,0.571428571429)","rgb(0.542857142857,0.542857142857,0.542857142857)","rgb(0.514285714286,0.514285714286,0.514285714286)","rgb(0.485714285714,0.485714285714,0.485714285714)","rgb(0.457142857143,0.457142857143,0.457142857143)","rgb(0.428571428571,0.428571428571,0.428571428571)","rgb(0.4,0.4,0.4)","rgb(0.371428571429,0.371428571429,0.371428571429)","rgb(0.342857142857,0.342857142857,0.342857142857)","rgb(0.314285714286,0.314285714286,0.314285714286)","rgb(0.285714285714,0.285714285714,0.285714285714)","rgb(0.257142857143,0.257142857143,0.257142857143)","rgb(0.228571428571,0.228571428571,0.228571428571)","rgb(0.2,0.2,0.2)","rgb(0.171428571429,0.171428571429,0.171428571429)","rgb(0.142857142857,0.142857142857,0.142857142857)","rgb(0.114285714286,0.114285714286,0.114285714286)","rgb(0.0857142857143,0.0857142857143,0.0857142857143)","rgb(0.0571428571429,0.0571428571429,0.0571428571429)","rgb(0.0285714285714,0.0285714285714,0.0285714285714)","rgb(0,0,0)"],
    grib_scaling_of_retrieved_fields : "off"
   )

wv_image_shade5 = mcont(
    wv_image_common,
    contour_level_list               : [221,222,223,224,225,226,227,228,229,230,231,232,233,234,235,236,237,238,239,240,241,242,243,244,245,246,247,248,249,250,251,252,253,254,255,270]
   )
   
wv_image_shade6 = mcont(
    wv_image_common,
    contour_level_list               : [220,222,224,226,228,230,232,234,236,238,240,242,244,246,248,250,252,254,256,258,260,262,264,266,268,270,272,274,276,278,280,282,284,286,288,295]
   )

if channel = 5 then
  image_contour = wv_image_shade5
else if channel = 6 then
  image_contour = wv_image_shade6
else if channel = 9 then
  image_contour = ir_clouds
end if
                 
# Plot command  
plot ( display_window[1], ssd, image_contour) 

# End of main program

# Function to build the layout.
function build_layout( )
    
    full_globe = geoview()
    
    _Page_ = plot_page(  
                TOP        : 0, 
                BOTTOM     : 100, 
                LEFT       : 0, 
                RIGHT      : 100, 
                ROWS       : 1, 
                COLUMNS    : 1, 
                PAGE_X_GAP : 0, 
                PAGE_Y_GAP : 0, 
                VIEW       : full_globe 
        )  
      
    # SuperPageDescription 
    _Display_Window_ = plot_superpage(  
                LAYOUT_SIZE        : "A4", 
                LAYOUT_ORIENTATION : "LANDSCAPE", 
                CUSTOM_WIDTH       : 29.7, 
                CUSTOM_HEIGHT      : 21.0, 
                PAGES                    : [ _Page_ ] 
        ) 
    # plot_superpage returns a list of drop identifiers. 
    # Index 1 is for first page, and so on. 
    # end of superpage definition  
      
    return _Display_Window_ 

end build_layout


48-hour global simulated Meteosat-10 SEVIRI imagery at 10.8 μm (channel 9) from the ECMWF model cycle 41r2 at T_CO1279 / O1280 horizontal resolution with 137 vertical levels run on 1 March 2016 at 00 UTC.	48-hour global simulated Meteosat-10 SEVIRI imagery at 6.30 μm (channel 5)from the ECMWF model cycle 41r2 at T_CO1279 / O1280 horizontal resolution with 137 vertical levels run on 1 March 2016 at 00 UTC.


Animation of 10 day global simulated Meteosat-10 SEVIRI imagery at 10.8 μm (channel 9) from the ECMWF model cycle 41r2 at T_CO1279 / O1280 horizontal resolution with 137 vertical levels run on 1 March 2016 at 00 UTC.	Animation of 10 day global simulated Meteosat-10 SEVIRI imagery at 6.30 μm (channel 5)from the ECMWF model cycle 41r2 at T_CO1279 / O1280 horizontal resolution with 137 vertical levels run on 1 March 2016 at 00 UTC.

Simulated satellite data as ECMWF web charts

Images produced from the simulated satellite data are available as ECMWF medium-range forecast charts on the web as Model simulated satellite images (Authorisation required).

Availability of the simulated satellite data in MARS

The simulated satellite data are archived in MARS under TYPE=SSD (Simulated Satellite Data). They can be viewed in the MARS Catalogue at:

Simulated Satellite Data from the HRES Forecasts (STREAM=OPER, class="OD", TYPE=SSD) (Authorisation required)

A sample MARS request for retrieving the fields at all post-processing time steps of a single forecast is:

MARS request for simulated satellite data

RETRIEVE,
    STREAM     = OPER,
    CLASS      = OD,
    EXPVER     = 0001,
    DATE       = -1,
    TIME       = 12,
    TYPE       = SSD,
    IDENT      = 57,
    INSTRUMENT = 207,
    PARAM      = 260510,
    CHANNEL    = 9,
    STEP       = 0/TO/144/BY/3,
    TARGET     = "meteosat-10.channel9.grib2"
RETRIEVE,
    STEP       = 150/TO/240/BY/6,
    TARGET     = "meteosat-10.channel9.grib2"

The fields are stored on the model O1280 octahedral reduced Gaussian grid. Any MARS post-processing keywords, such as AREA or GRID can be applied to the request to interpolate the fields to lower resolutions or geographical sub-areas.

Availability of the simulated satellite data in dissemination

The simulated satellite data will be available in dissemination. Initially, the products will be made available to ECMWF Member and Co-operating States. Availability in the real-time catalogue will need to be discussed and possibly agreed by ECMWF Committees.

Technical information

The simulated satellite data are specified using the satellite identifier, instrument, channel number and central wavelength as given in the WMO Manual on codes:

COMMON CODE TABLE C–5: Satellite identifier
COMMON CODE TABLE C–8: Satellite instruments

. For the simulated satellite data based on Meteosat-10 these are as in the table below:

Satellite	Instrument	Satellite ID	Instrument Type	Channel	Central wavelength (μm)	Description
Meteosat-10	SEVIRI (Spinning Enhanced Visible and InfraRed Imager)	57	207	5	6.30	Water Vapour at ~300 hPa
				6	7.36	Water Vapour at ~500 hPa
				9	10.79	Atmospheric Window channel ~clouds, surface

GRIB encoding

The simulated satellite data fields are encoded in GRIB edition 2 with the parameter set to Cloudy brightness temperature:

paramId	shortName	name	units	GRIB edition
260510	clbt	Cloudy brightness temperature	Kelvin	2

The product description uses productDefinitionTemplateNumber=32 (analysis or forecast at a horizontal level or in a horizontal layer at a point in time for simulated (synthetic) satellite data. The relevant GRIB API keys are encoded as:

GRIB key name
satelliteSeries	satelliteNumber ident	instrumentType instrument	channelNumber channel	NB numberOfContributingSpectralBands	scaleFactorOfCentralWaveNumber	scaledValueOfCentralWaveNumber (units: m^-1)
333	57	207	5	1	0	158800
			6	1	0	135800
			9	1	0	92700

Other GRIB API keys describing the product are:

Key	Value	Description
discipline	3	Space products
parameterCategory	1	Quantitative products
parameterNumber	14	Cloudy brightness temperature

GRIB API version at least 1.14.5 needs to be used in order to decode the simulated satellite data products.

History of simulated satellite images at ECMWF

Since 2005, ECMWF has generated model-simulated satellite images out to five days from the 00 UTC and 12 UTC cycles of the operational HRES forecast for all operational geostationary satellites operated by EUMETSAT (e.g., Meteosat-7/8/9/10), NOAA (e.g., GOES-8/10/11/12/13/15) and JMA (e.g., MTSAT-1R/2). The simulated images are archived in MARS as GRIB edition 1 files and have been presented on the ECMWF website as image files. The forecast-generated satellite images have been based on the resolution of the HRES global model with 3-hourly output from T+0 to T+48 and 6-hourly output to T+120.

Up to and including IFS cycle 41r1, the satellite images in both the atmospheric window and water vapour regions were simulated over each of the 5 geostationary satellite’s disk.

Prior to the implementation of IFS cycle 41r2, the simulated satellite image data were stored in MARS with TYPE=SIM and REPRES=SV (Space View) for the IDENT, INSTRUMENT and CHANNEL as specified in the table below.

Sector	Name	Operator	Longitude	Instrument Type	MARS availability		MARS Keywords			Nominal central wavelength (μm)	Dimensions (pixels)	Satellite subpoint (pixels)
Sector	Name	Operator	Longitude	Instrument Type	From	To	IDENT	INSTRUMENT	CHANNEL	Nominal central wavelength (μm)	Dimensions (pixels)	Satellite subpoint (pixels)
Indian Ocean	Meteosat-7	EUMETSAT	54.5° E	MVIRI	2009-03-10	2016-03-08	54	205	1	6.34	2500x2500	1250x1250
Indian Ocean	Meteosat-7	EUMETSAT	54.5° E	MVIRI	2009-03-10	2016-03-08	54	205	2	11.52	2500x2500	1250x1250
East Atlantic	Meteosat-8	EUMETSAT	0°	SEVIRI	2005-06-22	2009-03-09	55	207	5	6.30	1856x1856	928x928
									6	7.36
									9	10.79
	Meteosat-9	EUMETSAT	0°	SEVIRI	2009-03-10	2013-01-23	56	207	5	6.30	1856x1856	928x928
									6	7.36
									9	10.79
	Meteosat-10	EUMETSAT	0°	SEVIRI	2013-01-24	2016-03-08	56	207	5	6.30	1856x1856	928x928
									6	7.36
									9	10.79
East Pacific	GOES-11	NOAA	135.0° W	Imager	2009-03-10	2012-01-17	255	615	3	6.74	1250x1250	625x625
	GOES-11	NOAA	135.0° W	Imager	2009-03-10	2012-01-17	255	615	4	10.72	1250x1250	625x625
	GOES-15	NOAA	135.0° W	Imager	2012-01-18	2016-03-08	259	615	3	6.55	1250x1250	625x625
	GOES-15	NOAA	135.0° W	Imager	2012-01-18	2016-03-08	259	615	4	10.68	1250x1250	625x625
West Atlantic	GOES-12	NOAA	75.0° W	Imager	2009-03-10	2011-05-17	256	615	3	6.48	1250x1250	625x625
	GOES-12	NOAA	75.0° W	Imager	2009-03-10	2011-05-17	256	615	4	10.71	1250x1250	625x625
	GOES-13	NOAA	75.0° W	Imager	2011-05-18	2016-03-08	257	615	3	6.54	1250x1250	625x625
	GOES-13	NOAA	75.0° W	Imager	2011-05-18	2016-03-08	257	615	4	10.67	1250x1250	625x625
West Pacific	MTSAT-1R	JMA	140.2° E	JAMI	2009-03-10	2011-05-17	171	294	2	10.8	1250x1250	625x625
	MTSAT-1R	JMA	140.2° E	JAMI	2009-03-10	2011-05-17	171	294	4	6.75	1250x1250	625x625
	MTSAT-2	JMA	145.0° E	Imager	2011-05-18	2016-03-08	172	294	2	10.8	1250x1250	625x625
	MTSAT-2	JMA	145.0° E	Imager	2011-05-18	2016-03-08	172	294	4	6.77	1250x1250	625x625

These products have been encoded using GRIB edition 1.

An example MARS request for retrieving the old-style (pre-IFS cy41r2) simulated satellite images at all post-processing time steps to day 5 and for a forecast date "YYYYMMDD" prior to 20160308 is:

RETRIEVE,
    CLASS = OD, 
    TYPE = SIM,
    STREAM = OPER,
    EXPVER = 0001,
    REPRES = SV,
    DATE = YYYYMMDD,
    TIME = 0000,
    STEP = 0/3/6/9/12/15/18/21/24/27/30/33/36/39/42/45/48/54/60/66/72/78/84/90/96/102/108/114/120,
    DOMAIN = G,
    CHANNEL = 9,
    IDENT = 57,
    INSTRUMENT = 207,
    TARGET = ”old_simulated_meteosat-10.channel9.grib”

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