New scientific cooperation agreements with the German Aerospace Centre (DLR) and the United Kingdom’s National Centre for Earth Observation (NCEO), as well as a renewed Memorandum of Understanding with China’s National Satellite Ocean Application Service (NSOAS) will strengthen scientific cooperation and data exchange to support the vital forecasting, oceanographic and climate services that help save lives, protect livelihoods and benefit economies.

“These agreements ensure EUMETSAT’s 30 member states maintain vital ocean data access while establishing new frameworks for scientific cooperation with the potential to accelerate innovation, advance satellite technology, and improve operational capabilities,” said Paul Counet, EUMETSAT’s Head of Strategy, Communication and International Relations. “By collaborating with partners, we can enhance products from our new satellites, develop better algorithms and data processing methods, and improve monitoring of everything from greenhouse gases to ocean dynamics. This strengthens the global Earth observation network that enables national meteorological and hydrological institutes to provide better weather forecasts, climate information and environmental services to their citizens.”

Advancing meteorology and atmospheric science

A scientific cooperation agreement with DLR will provide a framework to broaden Earth observation science cooperation. Areas of potential focus include meteorology and atmospheric composition, verifying satellite measurements, data systems, and contributions to future mission planning. Activities could span information sharing, scientific exchanges, research collaborations, and algorithm development for tracking greenhouse gases and atmospheric composition. The agreement builds on longstanding cooperation activities such as through EUMETSAT’s Satellite Application Facilities network and the development of METimage on the recently launched Metop Second Generation A1 satellite.

Enhancing Earth system observations

The agreement with NCEO creates a multidisciplinary framework for Earth observation science cooperation. Areas of potential focus include atmospheric composition and dynamics, marine remote sensing, hydrology, Earth radiation budget, data infrastructure including artificial intelligence and machine learning applications, and contributions to future mission concepts. Activities could span information sharing, scientific exchanges, research collaborations, and developing algorithms and data products for environmental monitoring and prediction. This includes calibration and validation efforts, capacity building initiatives, and supporting the transition from research to operational applications.

Extending ocean monitoring exchange

A renewed Memorandum of Understanding with NSOAS will extend a successful partnership dating back to 2012, ensuring continued reciprocal access to satellite data for operational ocean monitoring. Access to these data helps scientists better track ocean heights, wave patterns, surface winds, water quality and temperature – information essential for weather forecasting, ocean monitoring, and climate research. The cooperation provides access to valuable Earth observations through high-speed communication links enabling near real-time data transfer. This has expanded critical marine products available to oceanographic and meteorological services in Europe and China.

About EUMETSAT
EUMETSAT, Europe’s meteorological satellite agency, monitors the weather and climate from space. Based in Darmstadt, Germany, EUMETSAT provides its 30 member states with meteorological imagery and data that are essential for keeping their communities safe and for the benefit of critical sectors of their economies.

EUMETSAT’s 30 member states are: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Türkiye and the United Kingdom.

For more information, see the EUMETSAT website.