Introduction

From IFS Cycle 49r1 we will provide a version of simulated images for top-of-the-atmosphere visible reflectance and brightness temperature representative of the images to be provided by the new Flexible Combined Imager (FCI) on the MTG-I1 satellite. Reflectance, a parameter introduced for the first time between model cycles IFS Cycle 48r1 and IFS Cycle 49r1, expressed as a percentage, is the ratio between outgoing and incoming solar shortwave radiation. 

Summary table

Ident / InstrumentParameter

Current channels
(48r1)

Upgraded channels
(49r1)

METEOSAT 10 (57)
SEVIRI* (207)

Cloudy brightness temperature

5/6/95/6/9
Cloudy reflectance**1/2**1/3

METEOSAT 12 (71)
FCI** (210)

Cloudy brightness temperature-10/11/14
Cloudy reflectance -1/2/3/4/7

* Spinning Enhanced Visible and Infrared Imager (SEVIRI)

** Flexible Combined Imager (FCI)

*** This was added in between cycles IFS 48r1 and 49r1

Please note that for the SEVIRI instrument, Channel 2 (VIS 0.8) will be discontinued, and replaced by Channel 3 (NIR1.6).

Detailed tables of available channels in IFS Cycle 49r1

METEOSAT 12, FCI instrument


Channel NoSpectral band (µm)Band central wavelength (µm)Parameter in 49r1
1VIS0.4 - Visible band centred on 0.4µm0.444Cloudy reflectance
2VIS0.5 - Visible band centred on 0.5µm0.510Cloudy reflectance
3VIS0.6 - Visible band centred on 0.6µm0.640Cloudy reflectance
4VIS0.8 - Visible band centred on 0.8µm0.865Cloudy reflectance
7NIR1.6 - Near-infrared band centred on 1.6µm1.610Cloudy reflectance
10WV6.3 - Water Vapour band centred on 6.3µm6.300Cloudy brightness temperature
11WV7.3 - Water Vapour band centred on 7.3µm7.350Cloudy brightness temperature
14IR10.5 - Infrared band centred on 10.5µm10.500Cloudy brightness temperature

METEOSAT 10, SEVIRI instrument

MARS  request - Cloudy reflectance

retrieve,
channel=1/2/3/4/7,
class=od,
date=2024-07-21,
expver=79,
ident=71,
instrument=210,
param=260512,
step=0/to/144/by/3,
stream=oper,
time=00:00:00,
type=ssd,
target="fci_vis.grib"

MARS request - Cloudy brightness temperature 

retrieve,
channel=10/11/14,
class=od,
date=2024-07-21,
expver=79,
ident=71,
instrument=210,
param=260510,
step=0/to/144/by/3,
stream=oper,
time=00:00:00,
type=ssd,
target="fci_wv_ir.grib"
Channel NoSpectral band (µm)Band central wavelength (µm)Parameter in 49r1
1VIS0.6 - Visible band centred on 0.6µm0.635Cloudy reflectance
3NIR1.6 - Near-infrared band centred on 1.6µm1.64Cloudy reflectance
5WV6.2 - Water Vapour band centred on 6.2µm6.25Cloudy brightness temperature
6WV7.3 - Water Vapour band centred on 7.3µm7.35Cloudy brightness temperature
9IR10.8 - Infrared band centred on 10.8µm10.8Cloudy brightness temperature

MARS request - Cloudy reflectance

retrieve,
channel=1/3,
class=od,
date=2024-07-21,
expver=79,
ident=57,
instrument=207,
param=260512,
step=0/to/144/by/3,
stream=oper,
time=00:00:00,
type=ssd,
target="seviri_vis.grib"

MARS request - Cloudy brightness temperature

retrieve,
channel=5/6/9,
class=od,
date=2024-07-21,
expver=79,
ident=57,
instrument=207,
param=260510,
step=0/to/144/by/3,
stream=oper,
time=00:00:00,
type=ssd,
target="seviri_wv_ir.grib"

Note that SSD data is available:

  • From 00/12 runs
  • Steps: 0 - 144 by 3 hours, 150 - 240 by 6 hours 

RGB composites

New channels (0.444 µm and 0.51 µm) from the FCI instrument will support the implementation of true colour (created using reflectance factors in FCI channels: 1 (0.444 µm, blue), 2 (0.510 µm, green) and 3 (0.640 µm, red)) and cloud RBG composite (using channels: 3 (0.444 µm), 4 (0.865 µm) and 14 (10.5 µm)) images, planned to be integrated to ecCharts and the open charts catalogue with the 49r1 upgrade.

References: