Level 2 products from EUMETSAT’s first geostationary hyperspectral Infrared sounder mission

The Infrared Sounder (IRS), onboard Europe’s latest meteorological satellite, marks a significant advancement in atmospheric observation capabilities. With high vertical resolution and a horizontal resolution of 4 km at sub-satellite point (SSP), combined with a revisit time of 30 minutes over Europe, IRS provides an unprecedented stream of high-quality atmospheric data. These enhancements are expected to substantially improve the performance of numerical weather prediction (NWP) models, particularly in the context of severe storm forecasting.

A piecewise linear regression (PWLR) retrieval method, developed at EUMETSAT, will be employed to accurately and precisely derive thermodynamic parameters—such as water vapour, temperature, and ozone profiles—from IRS observations. The retrieval will also provide uncertainty estimates along the derived profiles. Combined with cloud information, these profiles can be used to supplement regional models for nowcasting, for the purpose of more accurately and quickly identifying areas of potential instability and associated weather phenomena like convection, precipitation, and severe storms. Additionally, a suite of instability indices will be generated centrally within the Level 2 processing facilities, ensuring continuity with existing Global Instability Index (GII) products (e.g., from MSG) and consistency with future MTG-FCI-based outputs.

In this presentation we will demonstrate IRS's potential to contribute to nowcasting applications, highlighting key atmospheric products derived from the sensor. These include vertical profiles of temperature, humidity, and ozone as well as derived instability indices—all essential for the early detection and prediction of convective activity. Special focus will be given to the quality and availability of IRS products and their potential to significantly increase the reliability of short-term severe weather forecasts.